Standards

Milano chords & key

Key: C major
Form: AABA
Bars: 32
Groove: Slow swing
Time signature: 4/4

“Milano” is a jazz standard by John Lewis. It is usually played in C major as a slow swing, and the 32-bar AABA form has 4 sections. Harmonically it contains 8 major ii–V–I cadences and 5 minor ii–V–i, uses 17 different chords and moves between the key centres C major, D minor and F major.

Chord changes

to key

Showing in: Concert (C) — C major

D^m7G⁷

C^maj7A^m7

D^m7G⁷

C⁷G♭⁷

F^maj7D^m7G⁷

E^m7A^7♭9

D^m7G⁷

C^maj7A^7♭9

G^m7C⁷

F^maj7F^m6

E^m7A^m7

D^m7G⁷

C⁷G^m7C^7♯5

F^maj7F^m6

E^m7A^m7

F^m7♭5B^7♭9

E^m7A^7♭9

D^m7G⁷

C^maj7A^m7

D^m7G⁷

C⁷G♭⁷

F^maj7D^m7G⁷

E^m7A^7♭9

D^m7G^7♭9

C⁶A^7♯5

⊕

E^m7A^7♯5

D^m7G^7♭9

C⁶

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

Harmonic analysis

8Major ii–V–I

5Minor ii–V–i

21ii–V moves

3Tritone substitutions

4Dominant chains

17Different chords

Most used chords

D^m7×14
G⁷×12
E^m7×7
A^m7×5
C⁷×5
F^maj7×5

Key centres reached by ii–V

C major, D minor and F major

Characteristics

AABA song form

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

Title	Composer	Key	Form	Groove
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes 30%	Jerome Kern	E♭ major	AABA · 32	Ballad
Why Do I Love You? 29%	Jerome Kern	A♭ major	AA · 32	Medium swing
Let's Call The Whole Thing Off 28%	George Gershwin	G major	AABA · 34	Medium swing
Too Young To Go Steady 27%	Jimmy McHugh	F major	AABA · 32	Ballad
Look For The Silver Lining 26%	Jerome Kern	E♭ major	ABA · 32	Medium swing
Dexterity 25%	Charlie Parker	B♭ major	AABA · 32	Medium-up swing
Eclypso 24%	Tommy Flanagan	E♭ major	AABA · 32	Latin/swing
I'm Putting All My Eggs In One Basket 24%	Irving Berlin	C major	AABA · 32	Medium swing

Frequently asked questions

What key is Milano in?

Milano is usually played in C major. For B♭ instruments that is D major, for E♭ instruments A major.

Who wrote Milano?

Milano was written by John Lewis.

What is the form of Milano?

Milano has 4 sections (AABA) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is Milano played?

The usual groove is Slow swing.

What are the chord changes to Milano?

The opening bars are Dm7 G7 | Cmaj7 Am7 | Dm7 G7 | C7 Gb7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.