Standards · 1946
Moose The Mooche chords & key
- Key
- B♭ major
- Form
- AABA
- Bars
- 32
- Groove
- Up-tempo swing
- Time signature
- 4/4
- Year
- 1946
“Moose The Mooche” is a jazz standard by Charlie Parker from 1946. Most bands play it in B♭ major, up-tempo swing; the tune runs 32 bars in AABA form. Harmonically it contains 3 major ii–V–I cadences and 4 minor ii–V–i, uses 12 different chords and moves between the key centres C minor and B♭ major. The bridge uses the cycle of dominants known from Gershwin’s “I Got Rhythm” — so-called rhythm changes.
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
- F7×11
- G7×9
- Cm7×9
- Dm7×4
- B♭maj7×3
- Fm7×3
Key centres reached by ii–V
C minor and B♭ major
Characteristics
- Rhythm changes
- AABA song form
History
"Moose the Mooche" is a bebop composition written by Charlie Parker in 1946. It was written shortly after his friend and longtime musical companion Dizzy Gillespie left him in Los Angeles to return to New York City. Parker had been a long time heroin addict. Some historians suggest that the song was named after the drug dealer, Emry "Moose the Mooche" Byrd, who sold him drugs for several years before being arrested. Parker recorded it in Los Angeles for Dial on March 28, 1946, as the Charlie Parker Septet, accompanied by Miles Davis, Lucky Thompson and Dodo Marmarosa, who were performing with Parker at the Finale Club, Vic McMillan (who was brought in at the last minute when the original bassist, Red Callender, quit), Arvin Garrison and Roy Porter.
Read the full article on Wikipedia ↗ · From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Standards with similar changes
Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.
| Title | Key |
|---|---|
| Anthropology 100% | B♭ major |
| No Moe 100% | B♭ major |
| Oleo 100% | B♭ major |
| Passport 100% | B♭ major |
| Salt Peanuts 100% | B♭ major |
| Shaw 'Nuff 100% | B♭ major |
| The Theme 100% | B♭ major |
| Thriving From A Riff 77% | B♭ major |
Frequently asked questions
What key is Moose The Mooche in?
Moose The Mooche is usually played in B♭ major. For B♭ instruments that is C major, for E♭ instruments G major.
Who wrote Moose The Mooche?
Moose The Mooche was written by Charlie Parker (1946).
What is the form of Moose The Mooche?
Moose The Mooche has 4 sections (AABA) with 32 bars in total.
How fast is Moose The Mooche played?
The usual groove is Up-tempo swing.
What are the chord changes to Moose The Mooche?
The opening bars are Bbmaj7 G7 | Cm7 F7 | Dm7 G7 | Cm7 F7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.