Standards · 1947

Ruby, My Dear chords & key

Key: E♭ major
Form: AABA
Bars: 32
Groove: Ballad
Time signature: 4/4
Year: 1947

“Ruby, My Dear” is a jazz standard by Thelonious Monk from 1947. It is usually played in E♭ major as a ballad, and the 32-bar AABA form has 4 sections. Harmonically it contains 10 major ii–V–I cadences, uses 35 different chords and moves between the key centres E♭ major, F major, A♭ major and A major. In this atlas it appears on 24 album tracks.

Chord changes

to key

Showing in: Concert (C) — E♭ major

F^m9B♭^7♭9

E♭^maj7F^m7G♭^m7G^m7A♭⁶A⁶

G^m7C^7♭9

F^maj7G^m7A♭^m7A^m7

B♭^m7E♭^7♭9

A♭^maj7B♭^m7B^m7C^m7

B♭^m7E¹³

B^m7B♭^7♭5B♭^7♯5

B^m11B♭^7♭5

A^maj7

B^m7E^13♭9

A⁶⁹

B♭⁶B^dim7B^dim7

C^m7C^mmaj7C^m7

C^mmaj7D^m7

E♭^m7

A♭^7♭5E♭^7♯9

F^m9B♭^7♭9

E♭^maj7F^m7G♭^m7G^m7A♭⁶A⁶

G^m7C^7♭9

F^maj7G^m7A♭^m7A^m7

B♭^m7E♭^7♭9

A♭^maj7B♭^m7B^m7C^m7

B♭^m7E¹³

G♭⁶⁹B^7♭9B♭^7♭9B♭^7♭9

⊕

B♭^7♭9

A^7♭5

A♭^7♭5

D♭⁶⁹

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

Harmonic analysis

10Major ii–V–I

0Minor ii–V–i

11ii–V moves

1Tritone substitutions

0Dominant chains

35Different chords

Most used chords

G^m7×9
B♭^m7×9
B♭^7♭9×6
B^m7×5
C^m7×5
F^m9×3

Key centres reached by ii–V

E♭ major, F major, A♭ major and A major

Characteristics

AABA song form

History

Ruby, My Dear may refer to: Ruby, My Dear (composition), a composition by Thelonious Monk Ruby, My Dear (album), an album by Kenny Drew

Read the full article on Wikipedia ↗ · From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Recorded on these albums

1951	Genius of Modern Music, Volume 1 Thelonious Monk
1957	Kenny Drew Trio Kenny Drew with Paul Chambers, Philly Joe Jones · “Ruby My Dear”
1959	Thelonious Alone in San Francisco Thelonious Monk
1961	Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane
1965	Solo Monk Thelonious Monk
1967	Moody and the Brass Figures James Moody
1969	Epistrophy Steve Lacy · “Ruby My Dear”
1973	The Man I Love Thelonious Monk · “Ruby My Dear”
1975	Trident McCoy Tyner
1975	African Rhythms Randy Weston · “Ruby My Dear”
1976	Positive Intensity Tommy Flanagan · “Ruby My Dear”
1977	’Bop Redux Hank Jones
1978	Great Encounters Dexter Gordon · “Ruby My Dear”
1980	Evidence Steve Khan
1981	Gaslini Plays Monk Giorgio Gaslini · “Ruby My Dear”
1982	Summer Rita Marcotulli · “Ruby My Dear”
1983	Maiden Voyage Art Farmer · “Ruby My Dear”
1983	Loose Walk Louis Bellson, George Duvivier, Warren Parrish, Jack Scott · “Ruby My Dear”
1985	More Genius of Thelonious Monk Thelonious Monk · “Ruby, My Dear (alternate take)”
1985	Wise in Time Howard McGhee & Teddy Edwards · “Ruby My Dear”
1986	Seven Standards 1985, Volume II Anthony Braxton · “Ruby My Dear”
1988	Monk in Motian Paul Motian · “Ruby My Dear”
1989	Live in Paris, 1964 – Alhambra, Volume 1 Thelonious Monk
1989	Tribute To Thelonious, 64 Earl Bud Powell

Frequently asked questions

What key is Ruby, My Dear in?

Ruby, My Dear is usually played in E♭ major. For B♭ instruments that is F major, for E♭ instruments C major.

Who wrote Ruby, My Dear?

Ruby, My Dear was written by Thelonious Monk (1947).

What is the form of Ruby, My Dear?

Ruby, My Dear has 4 sections (AABA) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is Ruby, My Dear played?

The usual groove is Ballad.

What are the chord changes to Ruby, My Dear?

The opening bars are Fm9 Bb7b9 | Ebmaj7 Fm7 Gbm7 Gm7 Ab6 A6 | Gm7 C7b9 | Fmaj7 Gm7 Abm7 Am7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.