Standards
One By One chords & key
- Key
- G minor
- Form
- AABA
- Bars
- 32
- Groove
- Medium-up swing
- Time signature
- 4/4
“One By One” is a jazz standard by Wayne Shorter. Most bands play it in G minor, medium-up swing; the tune runs 32 bars in AABA form. Harmonically it contains 3 major ii–V–I cadences and 4 minor ii–V–i, uses 16 different chords and moves between the key centres G minor, B♭ major and D minor. In this atlas it appears on 9 album tracks.
Chord changes
Showing in: Concert (C) — G minor
Changes as commonly played (concert pitch). Your band's version may differ.
Harmonic analysis
Most used chords
- B♭maj7×11
- Gm7×11
- D7♭13×7
- A7♯9×5
- Em7♭5×5
- B♭7×4
Key centres reached by ii–V
G minor, B♭ major and D minor
Characteristics
- AABA song form
Recorded on these albums
| 1957 | Mal/2 Mal Waldron with Jackie McLean, John Coltrane, Idrees Sulieman, Sahib Shihab, and Bill Hardman · “One by One” |
| 1985 | The All American Hero Wynton Marsalis · “One by One” |
| 1992 | Art Blakey & Friends: Wynton Marsalis Art Blakey |
| 1993 | Gypsy Wynton Marsalis |
| 1996 | The Jazz Masters - 100 Años De Swing Wynton Marsalis |
| 1998 | Wynton Marsalis Wynton Marsalis |
| 2000 | Jazz Essentials: The All American Hero Wynton Marsalis · “One by One” |
| 2001 | Blakey's Theme Wynton Marsalis & Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers · “One by One” |
| 2001 | Round 'Bout Midnight Wynton Marsalis |
Frequently asked questions
What key is One By One in?
One By One is usually played in G minor. For B♭ instruments that is A minor, for E♭ instruments E minor.
Who wrote One By One?
One By One was written by Wayne Shorter.
What is the form of One By One?
One By One has 4 sections (AABA) with 32 bars in total.
How fast is One By One played?
The usual groove is Medium-up swing.
What are the chord changes to One By One?
The opening bars are Bbmaj7 | Bbmaj7 | Bbmaj7 | Bbmaj7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.