Standards
S.O.S. chords & key
- Key
- C minor
- Form
- ABCBD
- Bars
- 40
- Groove
- Up-tempo swing
- Time signature
- 4/4
“S.O.S.” is a jazz standard by Wes Montgomery. Most bands play it in C minor, up-tempo swing; the tune runs 40 bars in ABCBD form. Harmonically it contains 4 major ii–V–I cadences and 4 minor ii–V–i, uses 19 different chords and moves between the key centres A♭ major, C minor and F minor. In this atlas it appears on 13 album tracks.
Chord changes
Showing in: Concert (C) — C minor
Changes as commonly played (concert pitch). Your band's version may differ.
Harmonic analysis
Most used chords
- A♭maj7×8
- E♭7×7
- G7♯5×7
- Cm7×6
- Cmaj7×5
- B♭m7×4
Key centres reached by ii–V
A♭ major, C minor and F minor
Recorded on these albums
| 1955 | The Battle of Birdland Sonny Stitt & Eddie Davis |
| 1962 | Full House Wes Montgomery |
| 1976 | Coming Out The Manhattan Transfer |
| 1978 | All About Esther Phillips |
| 1983 | Eye Contact Bob Welch |
| 1984 | Motion Deodato · “S.O.S., Fire in the Sky” |
| 2000 | Rare Trax Chris Poland |
| 2001 | James Last plays ABBA James Last |
| 2002 | Rockin' At The Hi-Hat Sonny Stitt |
| 2010 | Panienki z temperamentem Kayah / Przemyk |
| 2011 | Norman Andrew Bird |
| 2011 | Coming Out & Pastiche The Manhattan Transfer |
| 2023 | The Complete Full House Recordings Wes Montgomery · “S.O.S. (take 3, album version)” |
Frequently asked questions
What key is S.O.S. in?
S.O.S. is usually played in C minor. For B♭ instruments that is D minor, for E♭ instruments A minor.
Who wrote S.O.S.?
S.O.S. was written by Wes Montgomery.
What is the form of S.O.S.?
S.O.S. has 5 sections (ABCBD) with 40 bars in total.
How fast is S.O.S. played?
The usual groove is Up-tempo swing.
What are the chord changes to S.O.S.?
The opening bars are Cm7 | Bbm7 Eb7 | Abmaj7 | Dm7b5 G7#5. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.