Standards

Nice 'n Easy chords & key

Key: C major
Form: BBAA
Bars: 36
Groove: Medium swing
Time signature: 4/4

“Nice 'n Easy” is a jazz standard by Spence-Bergman-Keith. Most bands play it in C major, medium swing; the tune runs 36 bars in BBAA form. Harmonically it contains 3 major ii–V–I cadences and 1 minor ii–V–i, uses 20 different chords and moves between the key centres C major and A minor. In this atlas it appears on 17 album tracks.

Chord changes

to key

Showing in: Concert (C) — C major

C^aug

C⁶

C⁷

D^m7

A^7♭13A^7♯9

D^m7

G⁷

D^m7

B^m7♭5E^7♭9

A^m7

A^mmaj7_/A♭

A^m_/GF^maj7

E^m7

E^m7♭5

A^7♯9

A♭^7♯11

D^m7_/GG⁷

C^aug

C⁶

C⁷

F^maj7

E^7♭9

A^m7

D⁷E♭^dim7

E^m7A^m7

D^m7G⁷

C⁶

D^m7G⁷

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

Harmonic analysis

3Major ii–V–I

1Minor ii–V–i

7ii–V moves

0Tritone substitutions

0Dominant chains

20Different chords

Most used chords

D^m7×6
C⁶×4
G⁷×4
C×3
C^aug×3
C⁷×3

Key centres reached by ii–V

C major and A minor

Recorded on these albums

1964	Keyboard Kaleidoscope Dick Hyman · “Nice ’n’ Easy”
1966	Guitars Alà Lee Peggy Lee · “Nice 'n' Easy”
1967	Lady Jack Jones · “Nice 'n' Easy”
1987	I Thought About You: Live at Vine Street Shirley Horn · “Nice ’n’ Easy”
1989	Time Out of Mind Grover Washington, Jr. · “Nice-N-Easy”
1989	Meets Alan & Marilyn Bergman: On My Way to You Greetje Kauffeld · “Nice ’n’ Easy”
1992	Girl Singer Rosemary Clooney · “Nice 'n' Easy”
2003	Rawls Sings Sinatra Lou Rawls · “Nice 'N' Easy”
2004	Come Fly With Me Michael Bublé · “Nice ’n Easy”
2006	Dear Mr. Sinatra John Pizzarelli · “Nice 'n' Easy”
2008	Still Unforgettable Natalie Cole · “Nice ’n’ Easy”
2008	Live at the 1994 Monterey Jazz Festival Shirley Horn · “Nice ’n’ Easy”
2011	What Matters Most: Barbra Streisand Sings the Lyrics of Alan and Marilyn Bergman Barbra Streisand · “Nice ’n’ Easy”
2013	Back to Brooklyn Barbra Streisand · “Nice ’n’ Easy / That Face”
2014	I Remember You Diane Schuur · “Nice 'N' Easy”
2015	The Complete Hits 1943-62 Frank Sinatra · “Nice 'N' Easy”
—	On My Way to the 30th Analog Forum Anniversary Greetje Kauffeld · “Nice ’n’ Easy”

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

Title	Composer	Key	Form	Groove
Too Young 21%	Lippman-Dee	B♭ major	AB · 32	Ballad
Why Do I Love You? 20%	Jerome Kern	A♭ major	AA · 32	Medium swing

Frequently asked questions

What key is Nice 'n Easy in?

Nice 'n Easy is usually played in C major. For B♭ instruments that is D major, for E♭ instruments A major.

Who wrote Nice 'n Easy?

Nice 'n Easy was written by Spence-Bergman-Keith.

What is the form of Nice 'n Easy?

Nice 'n Easy has 4 sections (BBAA) with 36 bars in total.

How fast is Nice 'n Easy played?

The usual groove is Medium swing.

What are the chord changes to Nice 'n Easy?

The opening bars are C | Caug | C6 | C7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.