Standards · 1945
Ko Ko chords & key
- Key
- B♭ major
- Form
- AAB
- Bars
- 48
- Groove
- Up-tempo swing
- Time signature
- 4/4
- Year
- 1945
“Ko Ko” is a jazz standard by Charlie Parker from 1945. Most bands play it in B♭ major, up-tempo swing; the tune runs 48 bars in AAB form. Harmonically it contains 7 major ii–V–I cadences, uses 20 different chords and moves between the key centres E♭ major, B♭ major, B major, A major and G major. In this atlas it appears on 5 album tracks and in 1 transcribed solo.
Chord changes
Showing in: Concert (C) — B♭ major
Changes as commonly played (concert pitch). Your band's version may differ.
Harmonic analysis
Most used chords
- B♭6×10
- C7×5
- E♭maj7×4
- A♭7×4
- Cm7×4
- Fm7×2
Key centres reached by ii–V
E♭ major, B♭ major, B major, A major and G major
History
"Ko Ko" (also spelled "Ko-Ko" or "Koko") is a 1945 bebop recording composed by Charlie Parker. The original recorded version lists Parker on alto saxophone with trumpeter Miles Davis, double bassist Curley Russell and drummer Max Roach. Due to the absence of Bud Powell, Dizzy Gillespie was enlisted to play piano, instead of his usual trumpet. Pianist Sadik Hakim, then known as Argonne Thornton, was also known to be present at the session. Rumors persist to this day about precisely who played trumpet and piano on this piece; some say it's young Miles Davis who plays trumpet and Gillespie comping at piano, on both takes; most say Gillespie plays trumpet and, or instead of, piano; some say Hakim is the pianist on all or part of one or both of the takes.
Read the full article on Wikipedia ↗ · From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Recorded on these albums
| 1953 | Bird - Diz - Bud - Max Bird - Diz - Bud - Max · “Co-Coa” |
| 1956 | The Charlie Parker Story Charlie Parker · “Ko-Ko (take 1)” |
| 2001 | Caravan Duke Ellington · “Ko-Ko” |
| 2014 | The Duke: Historically Speaking Duke Ellington · “Ko-Ko” |
| — | Lullaby of Birdland Duke Ellington · “KOKO” |
Transcribed solos on Ko Ko
| Charlie Parker alto saxophone | 299 BPM |
Standards with similar changes
Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.
| Title | Key |
|---|---|
| Cherokee 100% | B♭ major |
| If I Knew Then (What I Know Now) 25% | E♭ major |
| Remember 25% | F major |
| Ballade 24% | F major |
| Recordame 24% | A minor |
| September In The Rain 24% | E♭ major |
| Tadd's Delight 24% | A♭ major |
| I May Be Wrong 23% | E♭ major |
Frequently asked questions
What key is Ko Ko in?
Ko Ko is usually played in B♭ major. For B♭ instruments that is C major, for E♭ instruments G major.
Who wrote Ko Ko?
Ko Ko was written by Charlie Parker (1945).
What is the form of Ko Ko?
Ko Ko has 3 sections (AAB) with 48 bars in total.
How fast is Ko Ko played?
The usual groove is Up-tempo swing. Transcribed solos in our data were played at 299 BPM.
What are the chord changes to Ko Ko?
The opening bars are Bb6 | Bb6 | Fm7 | Bb7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.