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 24 album tracks.
Chord changes
Showing in: Concert (C) — G major
Changes as commonly played (concert pitch). Your band's version may differ.
Harmonic analysis
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)” |
| 1966 | Pop Artistry Sarah Vaughan · “On a Clear Day You Can See Forever” |
| 1966 | The Shadow of Your Smile Johnny Mathis · “On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever)” |
| 1966 | Soulin’ Lou Rawls · “On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever)” |
| 1966 | Let It Go Stanley Turrentine · “On a Clear Day You Can See Forever” |
| 1966 | Go Power! Illinois Jacquet With Milt Buckner & Alan Dawson · “On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever)” |
| 1967 | Full View Wynton Kelly · “On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever)” |
| 1967 | The Tender Storm Eddie Harris · “On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever)” |
| 1967 | On a Clear Day Shirley Scott · “On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever)” |
| 1967 | Mr. Blues Hank Crawford · “On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever)” |
| 1967 | Portrait of Sonny Criss Sonny Criss · “On a Clear Day” |
| 1968 | Exclusively for my Friends - Vol. II: Girl Talk Oscar Peterson · “On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever)” |
| 1968 | Straight, No Chaser Joe Henderson with The Wynton Kelly Trio · “On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever)” |
| 1969 | Alone Bill Evans · “On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever)” |
| 1971 | Portrait Cleo Laine · “On a Clear Day” |
| 1971 | Anita O'Day in Berlin Anita O’Day · “On a Clear Day” |
| 1972 | Live Concert at the Forum Barbra Streisand · “On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever)” |
| 1972 | Derek Bailey & Han Bennink Derek Bailey & Han Bennink |
| 1973 | From Broadway To Paris Count Basie and Benny Goodman · “On A Clear Day (You Can See Forever)” |
| 1973 | Hartman Sings Trane's Favorites Johnny Hartman · “On a Clear Day” |
| 1975 | Jazz Jamboree 75 Sarah Vaughan · “On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever)” |
| 1975 | Love & Sunshine Monty Alexander · “On a Clear Day” |
| 1978 | Intensive Care Louis Bellson, Ray Brown & Paul Smith · “On a Clear Day” |
| 1979 | Equinox Red Garland · “On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever)” |
Standards with similar changes
Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.
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.