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. In this atlas it appears on 21 album tracks.

Chord changes

to key

Showing in: Concert (C) — B♭ major

B♭^maj7G⁷

C^m7F⁷

D^m7G⁷

C^m7F⁷

F^m7B♭⁷

E♭⁷A♭⁷

D^m7G⁷

C^m7F⁷

B♭⁶

D⁷

G⁷

C⁷

F⁷

B♭^maj7G⁷

C^m7F⁷

D^m7G⁷

C^m7F⁷

F^m7B♭⁷

E♭⁷A♭⁷

C^m7F⁷

B♭⁶

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

Harmonic analysis

3Major ii–V–I

4Minor ii–V–i

16ii–V moves

0Tritone substitutions

9Dominant chains

12Different chords

Most used chords

F⁷×11
G⁷×9
C^m7×9
D^m7×4
B♭^maj7×3
F^m7×3

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)

Recorded on these albums

1957	Bud! The Amazing Bud Powell, Volume 3 Bud Powell · “Moose the Mooche”
1960	Barry Harris at The Jazz Workshop Barry Harris · “Moose the Mooche”
1977	’Bop Redux Hank Jones · “Moose the Mooche”
1977	Mel Lewis And Friends Mel Lewis · “Moose the Mooche”
1983	Carnaval Ron Carter, Hank Jones, Sadao Watanabe, Tony Williams · “Moose the Mooche”
1984	The Good Life Archie Shepp · “Moose the Mooche”
1984	Piper at the Gates of Dawn Phil Woods & Chris Swansen · “Moose the Mooche”
1986	Looking at Bird Archie Shepp & Niels‐Henning Ørsted Pedersen · “Moose the Mooche”
1989	The Many Faces of Bird - The Music of Charlie Parker Richie Cole, Lee Konitz, Bobby McFerrin, James Moody & Bud Shank · “Moose the Mooche”
1990	Carnaval Sadao Watanabe with The Great Jazz Trio · “Moose the Mooche”
1993	Wish Joshua Redman · “Moose the Mooche”
1993	Rapsodia Gonzalo Rubalcaba · “Moose the Mooche”
1995	13# Steps on Glass Sunny Murray · “Moose the Mooche”
1996	Bud Plays Bird Bud Powell · “Moose the Mooche”
1997	Master Class Hank Jones · “Moose the Mooche”
1999	Drums Around the Corner Art Blakey · “Moose the Mooche”
2001	Birds of a Feather: A Tribute to Charlie Parker Roy Haynes · “Moose the Mooch”
2004	Like Fine Wine George Shearing · “Moose the Mooche”
2006	Night in Tunisia Charlie Parker · “Moose the Mooche”
2009	Live in Marciac 1993 Tommy Flanagan & Hank Jones · “Moose the Mooche”
2023	Hank Jones Trio!!! Hank Jones, George Mraz, Kenny Washington,Hank Jones Trio · “Moose the Mooche”

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

Title	Composer	Key	Form	Groove
Anthropology 100%	Charlie Parker	B♭ major	AABA · 32	Up-tempo swing
No Moe 100%	Sonny Rollins	B♭ major	AABA · 32	Up-tempo swing
Oleo 100%	Sonny Rollins	B♭ major	AABA · 32	Up-tempo swing
Passport 100%	Charlie Parker	B♭ major	AABA · 32	Up-tempo swing
Salt Peanuts 100%	Dizzy Gillespie	B♭ major	AABA · 32	Up-tempo swing
Shaw 'Nuff 100%	Charlie Parker	B♭ major	AABA · 32	Up-tempo swing
The Theme 100%	Miles Davis	B♭ major	AABA · 32	Up-tempo swing
Thriving From A Riff 77%	Charlie Parker	B♭ major	AABA · 32	Up-tempo swing

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.