Standards · 1945

Now's The Time chords & key

Key: F major
Form: A
Bars: 12
Groove: Medium swing
Time signature: 4/4
Year: 1945

“Now's The Time” is a jazz standard by Charlie Parker from 1945. Most bands play it in F major, medium swing; the tune runs 12 bars in A form. Harmonically it contains no major ii–V–I cadences and 1 minor ii–V–i, uses 8 different chords. Its changes follow the 12-bar blues. In this atlas it appears on 24 album tracks.

Chord changes

to key

Showing in: Concert (C) — F major

F⁷

B♭⁷

F⁷

C^m7F⁷

B♭⁷

B^dim7

F⁷

A^m7D⁷

G^m7

C⁷

F⁷D⁷

G^m7C⁷

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

Harmonic analysis

0Major ii–V–I

1Minor ii–V–i

4ii–V moves

0Tritone substitutions

3Dominant chains

8Different chords

Most used chords

F⁷×5
B♭⁷×2
D⁷×2
G^m7×2
C⁷×2
C^m7×1

Characteristics

12-bar blues

Recorded on these albums

1954	Charlie Parker Charlie Parker · “Now's the Time”
1956	The Charlie Parker Story Charlie Parker · “Now's the Time (take 1)”
1957	Four Trombones Kai Winding + J.J. Johnson + Bennie Green + Willie Dennis And Featuring John Lewis & Charlie Mingus · “Now's the Time”
1957	Autumn Leaves Buddy Defranco and His Clarinet Buddy DeFranco · “Now's the Time”
1957	Leonard Feather Presents Bop George Wallington · “Now's the Time”
1958	The Spirit of Charlie Parker Frank Wess - Bobby Jaspar - Seldon Powell · “Now's the Time”
1959	Improvised Meditations & Excursions John Lewis · “Now's the Time”
1960	Ray Bryant Plays Ray Bryant · “Now’s the Time”
1961	Complete Original Trio Recordings Hank Jones · “Now's the Time”
1964	Now’s the Time! Sonny Rollins · “Now’s the Time”
1968	Body and Soul Eddie Jefferson · “Now's the Time”
1972	Epistrophy & Now’s the Time Richard Davis · “Now’s the Time”
1977	Jazz in Paris: Rhoda Scott + Kenny Clarke Rhoda Scott & Kenny Clarke · “Now's the Time”
1977	Watch the Time Joe Beck · “Now's the Time”
1978	Barney Kessel's Swingin' Party at Contemporary Barney Kessel · “Now's the Time”
1979	Lady Bird Archie Shepp · “Now's the Time”
1979	Bird Lives! Joe Albany · “Now's the Time”
1980	Lazy Bird Sadik Hakim · “Now's the Time”
1982	Back Street Lou Donaldson · “Now's the Time”
1983	Loose Walk Louis Bellson, George Duvivier, Warren Parrish, Jack Scott
1986	Flutin' the Bird... Bird Lives! Herbie Mann, Bobby Jaspar, Seldon Powell, Frank Wess · “Now's the Time”
1988	New York City, Birdland Club, February 21, 1954 Art Blakey & Clifford Brown · “Now's the Time”
1988	Bebop Milt Jackson
1989	Autumn Leaves Cindy Blackman Trio · “Now's the Time”

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

Title	Composer	Key	Form	Groove
Au Privave 100%	Charlie Parker	F major	A · 12	Up-tempo swing
Billie's Bounce 100%	Charlie Parker	F major	A · 12	Medium-up swing
Pfrancing (No Blues) 100%	Miles Davis	F major	A · 12	Medium swing
Walkin' 100%	Miles Davis	F major	A · 12	Up-tempo swing
Barbados 71%	Charlie Parker	F major	A · 12	Latin
Route 66 71%	Bobby Troup	F major	A · 12	Medium swing
Bags' Groove 47%	Milt Jackson	F major	A · 12	Medium swing
Sandu 47%	Clifford Brown	E♭ major	A · 12	Medium swing

Frequently asked questions

What key is Now's The Time in?

Now's The Time is usually played in F major. For B♭ instruments that is G major, for E♭ instruments D major.

Who wrote Now's The Time?

Now's The Time was written by Charlie Parker (1945).

What is the form of Now's The Time?

Now's The Time has 1 sections (A) with 12 bars in total.

How fast is Now's The Time played?

The usual groove is Medium swing.

What are the chord changes to Now's The Time?

The opening bars are F7 | Bb7 | F7 | Cm7 F7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.