ENDEIT

Standards

Let's Cool One chords & key

Thelonious Monk

Key
E♭ major
Form
AABA
Bars
32
Groove
Medium swing
Time signature
4/4

“Let's Cool One” is a jazz standard by Thelonious Monk. Most bands play it in E♭ major, medium swing; the tune runs 32 bars in AABA form. Harmonically it contains 4 major ii–V–I cadences, uses 14 different chords and moves between the key centres E♭ major and A♭ major. In this atlas it appears in 1 transcribed solo.

Chord changes

Showing in: Concert (C) — E♭ major

A
×2
E♭maj7
Fm7B♭7
E♭D7D♭7G7
C7♭9♯11
F7
B♭7
E♭6
E♭6B♭7
B
B♭m7
E♭7
A♭maj7
A♭maj7
F7
F7
B♭7sus
B♭7sus
A
E♭maj7
Fm7B♭7
E♭D7D♭7G7
C7♭9♯11
F7
B♭7
E♭6
E♭6B♭7

Changes as commonly played (concert pitch). Your band's version may differ.

Harmonic analysis

4Major ii–V–I
0Minor ii–V–i
4ii–V moves
0Tritone substitutions
10Dominant chains
14Different chords

Most used chords

  • B♭7×9
  • E♭6×6
  • F7×5
  • E♭maj7×3
  • Fm7×3
  • E♭×3

Key centres reached by ii–V

E♭ major and A♭ major

Characteristics

  • AABA song form

Transcribed solos on Let's Cool One

Steve Lacy soprano saxophone 132 BPM Eb-maj 1961-11-14

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

TitleComposerKeyFormGroove
He's A Tramp 32% Lee-Burke G major AABA · 32 Medium swing
L.O.V.E. 32% Gabler-Kaempfert G major ABAC · 32 Medium swing
All Alone 29% Irving Berlin F major ABBD · 32 Jazz waltz
Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea 28% Harold Arlen F major AABA · 32 Medium-up swing
Pennies From Heaven 28% Arthur Johnston C major AB · 32 Medium swing
52nd Street Theme 27% Thelonious Monk C major AABA · 32 Up-tempo swing
Four In One 27% Thelonious Monk E♭ major AABA · 32 Medium swing
Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home 24% Hughie Cannon G major ABAC · 32 Medium-up swing

Frequently asked questions

What key is Let's Cool One in?

Let's Cool One is usually played in E♭ major. For B♭ instruments that is F major, for E♭ instruments C major.

Who wrote Let's Cool One?

Let's Cool One was written by Thelonious Monk.

What is the form of Let's Cool One?

Let's Cool One has 4 sections (AABA) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is Let's Cool One played?

The usual groove is Medium swing. Transcribed solos in our data were played at 132 BPM.

What are the chord changes to Let's Cool One?

The opening bars are Ebmaj7 | Fm7 Bb7 | Eb D7 Db7 G7 | C7b9#11. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.