ENDEIT

Standards

Prelude To A Kiss chords & key

Duke Ellington

Key
C major
Form
AABA
Bars
32
Groove
Ballad
Time signature
4/4

“Prelude To A Kiss” is a jazz standard by Duke Ellington. It is usually played in C major as a ballad, and the 32-bar AABA form has 4 sections. Harmonically it contains 4 major ii–V–I cadences and 1 minor ii–V–i, uses 25 different chords and moves between the key centres C major, E minor and E major. In this atlas it appears on 18 album tracks.

Chord changes

Showing in: Concert (C) — C major

A
D9G9
C7Fmaj7
B9E9
A7Dm7
Dm7G7A♭dim
Am7D13
Dm7G7♭9
1.
Cmaj7Em7A7
2.
Cmaj7G♭m7♭5B7
B
Emaj7D♭m7
G♭m7♭5B7
A♭m7Gdim7
G♭m7B7
Emaj7D♭m7
G♭m7♭5B7
E7A7
Dm7E♭m7Em7E♭7
A
D9G9
C7Fmaj7
B9E9
A7Dm7
Dm7G7A♭dim
Am7D13
Dm7G7♭9
Cmaj7Em7A7

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

Harmonic analysis

4Major ii–V–I
1Minor ii–V–i
15ii–V moves
0Tritone substitutions
15Dominant chains
25Different chords

Most used chords

  • Dm7×10
  • A7×6
  • B7×4
  • D9×3
  • G9×3
  • C7×3

Key centres reached by ii–V

C major, E minor and E major

Characteristics

  • AABA song form

Recorded on these albums

1953 Piano Reflections
Duke Ellington · “Prelude to a Kiss”
1953 Oscar Peterson Plays Duke Ellington
Oscar Peterson · “Prelude to a Kiss”
1954 The Duke Plays Ellington
Duke Ellington · “Prelude to a Kiss”
1956 Velvet Mood
Billie Holiday · “Prelude to a Kiss”
1957 Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book
Ella Fitzgerald · “Prelude to a Kiss”
1957 Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book, Volume 2
Ella Fitzgerald · “Prelude to a Kiss”
1958 Lady in Satin
Billie Holiday · “Prelude to a Kiss”
1959 Oscar Peterson Plays the Duke Ellington Song Book
Oscar Peterson · “Prelude to a Kiss”
1974 Duke's Big 4
Duke Ellington · “Prelude to a Kiss”
1989 Piano Reflections
Duke Ellington · “Prelude to a Kiss”
1989 Braggin' in Brass: The Immortal 1938 Year
Duke Ellington · “Prelude to a Kiss”
1993 Jazz Tribune No.69: Indispensable
Duke Ellington · “Prelude to a Kiss”
1999 Reflections on Duke
Duke Ellington; Jean‐Yves Thibaudet · “Prelude to a Kiss”
2004 Classic Recordings, Vol. 5 (1938): Braggin' in Brass
Duke Ellington · “Prelude to a Kiss”
2005 Rockin' in Rhythm
Duke Ellington · “Prelude to a Kiss”
2012 Blue Note Jazz Inspiration
Duke Ellington · “Prelude to a Kiss”
2024 Copenhagen 1958 (bonus: After Hours 1950)
Duke Ellington · “Prelude to a Kiss”
2026 Early Years - Selected Albums 1956-58
Johnny Mathis · “Prelude to a Kiss”

Historic 78 rpm recordings

  • PRELUDE TO A KISS JOHN HARDEE QUARTET · John Hardee · Al Haig · Clyde Lombardi ·… archive.org ↗
  • PRELUDE TO A KISS THE RAM RAMIREZ TRIO · Roger "Ram" Ramirez · Al Hall · Jimmy Shirley… · 1946 archive.org ↗
  • PRELUDE TO A KISS THE FOUR BOPS · DUKE ELINGTON · 1948 archive.org ↗
  • Prelude to a Kiss Stan Getz · Swedish All Stars · Bengt Hallberg · Gunnar Johnson ·… · 1951 archive.org ↗
  • PRELUDE TO A KISS STAN GETZ QUARTET · Stan Getz · Bengt Hallberg · Gunnar Johnson ·… · 1951 archive.org ↗

Frequently asked questions

What key is Prelude To A Kiss in?

Prelude To A Kiss is usually played in C major. For B♭ instruments that is D major, for E♭ instruments A major.

Who wrote Prelude To A Kiss?

Prelude To A Kiss was written by Duke Ellington.

What is the form of Prelude To A Kiss?

Prelude To A Kiss has 4 sections (AABA) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is Prelude To A Kiss played?

The usual groove is Ballad.

What are the chord changes to Prelude To A Kiss?

The opening bars are D9 G9 | C7 Fmaj7 | B9 E9 | A7 Dm7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.