Standards

Out Of Nowhere chords & key

Key: G major
Form: ABAC
Bars: 32
Groove: Medium swing
Time signature: 4/4

“Out Of Nowhere” is a jazz standard by Johnny Green. Most bands play it in G major, medium swing; the tune runs 32 bars in ABAC form. Harmonically it contains 2 major ii–V–I cadences and 2 minor ii–V–i, uses 10 different chords and moves between the key centres A minor and G major. In this atlas it appears on 6 album tracks and in 3 transcribed solos.

Chord changes

to key

Showing in: Concert (C) — G major

G^maj7

A♯^m7

D♯⁷

G^maj7

B^m7

E^7♭9

A^m7

E^7♭9

A^m7

D♯⁷

A^m7

D⁷

G^maj7

A♯^m7

D♯⁷

G^maj7

B^m7

E^7♭9

A^m7

E^7♭9

A^m7

C^m6

B^m7A♯^dim7

A^m7D⁷

G⁶

A^m7D⁷

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

Harmonic analysis

2Major ii–V–I

2Minor ii–V–i

7ii–V moves

0Tritone substitutions

0Dominant chains

10Different chords

Most used chords

G^maj7×8
A^m7×8
D♯⁷×4
E^7♭9×4
B^m7×3
D⁷×3

Key centres reached by ii–V

A minor and G major

Characteristics

ABAC song form

Recorded on these albums

1950	Charlie Parker Sextet Charlie Parker · “Out of Nowhere”
1961	An Historical Meeting At The Summit Charlie Parker And Lester Young
1998	Frank Sinatra - Legend Vocal Gold Series Frank Sinatra
2000	Don't Fence Me In Bing Crosby · “Out of Nowhere”
2002	It’s Easy to Remember Bing Crosby · “Out of Nowhere”
2026	Feebles, Fables & Ferns Mick Goodrick & Fred Hersch · “Out of Nowhere”

Transcribed solos on Out Of Nowhere

Don Byas tenor saxophone	56 BPM	G-maj	1945-06-27
Charlie Parker alto saxophone	68 BPM	G-maj	1947-11-04
Don Ellis trumpet	152 BPM	G-maj	1961-04-21

Historic 78 rpm recordings

OUT OF NOWHERE KENNY CLARKE'S ALL STARS · Percy Heath · H. McGee · Michel DeVillers… archive.org ↗
Out of nowhere Peter Rasmussen's Sekstet · Green archive.org ↗
OUT OF NOWHERE THE FOUR STAR RHYTHM SECTION · Stan Wrightsman · George Van Eps ·… · 1945 archive.org ↗
OUT OF NOWHERE CLYDE HURLEY and his ORCHESTRA · Clyde Hurley · Babe Russin · Murray… · 1946 archive.org ↗
OUT OF NOWHERE PAUL SMITH QUARTET · Paul Smith · Tonny Rizzi · Norm Seelig · Alvin… · 1950 archive.org ↗
OUT OF NOWHERE PAUL SMITH QUARTET · Paul Smith · Tonny Rizzi · Norm Seelig · Alvin… · 1950 archive.org ↗
Out of Nowhere Stan Getz · Heyman · Green · 1954 archive.org ↗

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

Title	Composer	Key	Form	Groove
Meditation 34%	Antonio-Carlos Jobim	C major	AAB · 40	Bossa nova
You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You 27%	Morgan-Stock-Cavanaugh	E♭ major	ABAC · 32	Medium swing
On The Trail 24%	Ferde Grofe	F major	AB · 16	Medium-up swing
Let There Be Love 22%	Rand-Grant	E♭ major	ABAC · 32	Medium swing
You Do Something To Me 21%	Cole Porter	E♭ major	ABC · 32	Medium-up swing

Frequently asked questions

What key is Out Of Nowhere in?

Out Of Nowhere is usually played in G major. For B♭ instruments that is A major, for E♭ instruments E major.

Who wrote Out Of Nowhere?

Out Of Nowhere was written by Johnny Green.

What is the form of Out Of Nowhere?

Out Of Nowhere has 4 sections (ABAC) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is Out Of Nowhere played?

The usual groove is Medium swing. Transcribed solos in our data were played at 56 BPM, 68 BPM and 152 BPM.

What are the chord changes to Out Of Nowhere?

The opening bars are Gmaj7 | Gmaj7 | A#m7 | D#7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.