Standards

On A Clear Day chords & key

Key
G major
Form
ABC
Bars
34
Groove
Medium swing
Time signature
4/4

“On A Clear Day” is a jazz standard by Burton Lane. It is usually played in G major as a medium swing, and the 34-bar ABC form has 3 sections. Harmonically it contains 3 major ii–V–I cadences and 2 minor ii–V–i, uses 13 different chords and moves between the key centres A minor, G major and C major. In this atlas it appears on 7 album tracks.

Chord changes

Showing in: Concert (C) — G major

A
Gmaj7
Gmaj7
C7♯11
C7♯11
Gmaj7
Gmaj7
Bm7
E7♭9
Am7
Am7
F7♯11
F7♯11
Bm7
A♯dim7
Am7
D7
B
Dm7
G7
Dm7
G7
Cmaj7
A7
Am7
D7
C
Gmaj7
Gmaj7
Bm7
E7♭9
Am7Bm7
Cmaj7Bm7
Am7
D7
G6
Am7D7

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

Harmonic analysis

3Major ii–V–I
2Minor ii–V–i
8ii–V moves
0Tritone substitutions
0Dominant chains
13Different chords

Most used chords

  • Am7×7
  • Gmaj7×6
  • Bm7×5
  • D7×4
  • C7♯11×2
  • E7♭9×2

Key centres reached by ii–V

A minor, G major and C major

Recorded on these albums

1966 Strangers in the Night
Frank Sinatra · “On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever)”
1968 Exclusively for my Friends - Vol. II: Girl Talk
Oscar Peterson · “On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever)”
1972 Live Concert at the Forum
Barbra Streisand · “On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever)”
1984 The Good Life
Oscar Peterson · “On a Clear Day”
1994 The Concert
Barbra Streisand · “On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever)”
2000 Timeless: Live in Concert
Barbra Streisand · “On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever)”
2026 World Tour
Oscar Peterson · “On a Clear Day”

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

TitleComposerKeyFormGroove
Pennies From Heaven 31% Arthur Johnston C major AB · 32 Medium swing
I Can't Give You Anything But Love 26% Jimmy McHugh F major ABAC · 32 Medium swing
The Best Things In Life Are Free 25% DeSylva-Brown-Henderson C major AB · 32 Medium-up swing
Take The A Train 23% Billy Strayhorn C major AABA · 32 Medium-up swing
You Can Depend On Me 23% Carpenter-Dunlap-Hines F major AABA · 32 Medium-up swing
Cheers 22% Howard McGhee B♭ major AABA · 32 Medium swing
Every Time We Say Goodbye 22% Cole Porter E♭ major ABAC · 32 Ballad
New York, New York 22% John Kander F major AABA · 42 Medium swing

Frequently asked questions

What key is On A Clear Day in?

On A Clear Day is usually played in G major. For B♭ instruments that is A major, for E♭ instruments E major.

Who wrote On A Clear Day?

On A Clear Day was written by Burton Lane.

What is the form of On A Clear Day?

On A Clear Day has 3 sections (ABC) with 34 bars in total.

How fast is On A Clear Day played?

The usual groove is Medium swing.

What are the chord changes to On A Clear Day?

The opening bars are Gmaj7 | Gmaj7 | C7#11 | C7#11. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.