ENDEIT

Standards · 1945

Shaw 'Nuff chords & key

Charlie Parker

Key
B♭ major
Form
AABA
Bars
32
Groove
Up-tempo swing
Time signature
4/4
Year
1945

“Shaw 'Nuff” is a jazz standard by Charlie Parker from 1945. Most bands play it in B♭ major, up-tempo 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 12 different chords and moves between the key centres C minor and B♭ major. The bridge uses the cycle of dominants known from Gershwin’s “I Got Rhythm” — so-called rhythm changes.

Chord changes

Showing in: Concert (C) — B♭ major

A
B♭maj7G7
Cm7F7
Dm7G7
Cm7F7
Fm7B♭7
E♭7A♭7
1.
Dm7G7
Cm7F7
2.
Cm7F7
B♭6
B
D7
D7
G7
G7
C7
C7
F7
F7
A
B♭maj7G7
Cm7F7
Dm7G7
Cm7F7
Fm7B♭7
E♭7A♭7
Cm7F7
B♭6

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

Harmonic analysis

3Major ii–V–I
4Minor ii–V–i
16ii–V moves
0Tritone substitutions
9Dominant chains
12Different chords

Most used chords

  • F7×11
  • G7×9
  • Cm7×9
  • Dm7×4
  • B♭maj7×3
  • Fm7×3

Key centres reached by ii–V

C minor and B♭ major

Characteristics

  • Rhythm changes
  • AABA song form

Historic 78 rpm recordings

  • Shaw 'Nuff Dizzy Gillespie and his All Star Quintette · Parker · Gillespie · 1945 archive.org ↗
  • Shaw 'Nuff Dizzy Gillespie and his All Star Quintette · Parker · Gillespie · 1945 archive.org ↗

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

TitleComposerKeyFormGroove
Anthropology 100% Charlie Parker B♭ major AABA · 32 Up-tempo swing
Moose The Mooche 100% Charlie Parker B♭ major AABA · 32 Up-tempo swing
No Moe 100% Sonny Rollins B♭ major AABA · 32 Up-tempo swing
Oleo 100% Sonny Rollins B♭ major AABA · 32 Up-tempo swing
Passport 100% Charlie Parker B♭ major AABA · 32 Up-tempo swing
Salt Peanuts 100% Dizzy Gillespie B♭ major AABA · 32 Up-tempo swing
The Theme 100% Miles Davis B♭ major AABA · 32 Up-tempo swing
Thriving From A Riff 77% Charlie Parker B♭ major AABA · 32 Up-tempo swing

Frequently asked questions

What key is Shaw 'Nuff in?

Shaw 'Nuff is usually played in B♭ major. For B♭ instruments that is C major, for E♭ instruments G major.

Who wrote Shaw 'Nuff?

Shaw 'Nuff was written by Charlie Parker (1945).

What is the form of Shaw 'Nuff?

Shaw 'Nuff has 4 sections (AABA) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is Shaw 'Nuff played?

The usual groove is Up-tempo swing.

What are the chord changes to Shaw 'Nuff?

The opening bars are Bbmaj7 G7 | Cm7 F7 | Dm7 G7 | Cm7 F7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.