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 3 album tracks.
Chord changes
Showing in: Concert (C) — F major
Changes as commonly played (concert pitch). Your band's version may differ.
Harmonic analysis
Most used chords
- F7×5
- B♭7×2
- D7×2
- Gm7×2
- C7×2
- Cm7×1
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)” |
| 2016 | Live in Cologne, 1974 (Live) Ella Fitzgerald · “Now’s the Time (live)” |
Standards with similar changes
Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.
| Title | Key |
|---|---|
| Au Privave 100% | F major |
| Billie's Bounce 100% | F major |
| Pfrancing (No Blues) 100% | F major |
| Walkin' 100% | F major |
| Barbados 71% | F major |
| Route 66 71% | F major |
| Bags' Groove 47% | F major |
| Sandu 47% | E♭ major |
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.