Standards · 1948
Lady Bird chords & key
- Key
- C major
- Form
- A
- Bars
- 16
- Groove
- Up-tempo swing
- Time signature
- 4/4
- Year
- 1948
“Lady Bird” is a jazz standard by Tadd Dameron from 1948. It is usually played in C major as a up-tempo swing, and the 16-bar A form repeats as one section. Harmonically it contains 2 major ii–V–I cadences, uses 12 different chords and moves between the key centres A♭ major and C major. In this atlas it appears on 1 album track and in 2 transcribed solos.
Chord changes
Showing in: Concert (C) — C major
Changes as commonly played (concert pitch). Your band's version may differ.
Harmonic analysis
Most used chords
- Cmaj7×5
- A♭maj7×3
- Fm7×1
- B♭7×1
- B♭m7×1
- E♭7×1
Key centres reached by ii–V
A♭ major and C major
History
"Lady Bird" is a sixteen-bar jazz standard by Tadd Dameron. This "celebrated" composition, "one of the most performed in modern jazz", was written around 1939, and released in 1948. Featuring, "a suave, mellow theme," it is the origin of the Tadd Dameron turnaround (in C: CM7 E♭7 A♭M7 D♭7 CM7). An example of Dameron's interest in keys and/or roots related by thirds, the piece is in binary form (AABC) and features, through the use of ii-V turnarounds, movement toward three keys other than the tonic; E♭, A♭, and G. The first three four-measure phrases end with secondary ii-V's, while the last ends instead with the Tadd Dameron turnaround resolving to the tonic.
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Recorded on these albums
Transcribed solos on Lady Bird
| Hank Mobley tenor saxophone | 221 BPM |
| Kenny Dorham trumpet | 212 BPM |
Standards with similar changes
Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.
| Title | Key |
|---|---|
| Half Nelson 65% | C major |
| Do You Know What It Means? 20% | C major |
Frequently asked questions
What key is Lady Bird in?
Lady Bird is usually played in C major. For B♭ instruments that is D major, for E♭ instruments A major.
Who wrote Lady Bird?
Lady Bird was written by Tadd Dameron (1948).
What is the form of Lady Bird?
Lady Bird has 1 sections (A) with 16 bars in total.
How fast is Lady Bird played?
The usual groove is Up-tempo swing. Transcribed solos in our data were played at 221 BPM and 212 BPM.
What are the chord changes to Lady Bird?
The opening bars are Cmaj7 | Cmaj7 | Fm7 | Bb7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.