Standards

Skating In Central Park chords & key

Key
C major
Form
AABA
Bars
85
Groove
Jazz waltz
Time signature
3/4

“Skating In Central Park” is a jazz standard by John Lewis. It is usually played in C major as a jazz waltz, and the 85-bar AABA form has 4 sections. Harmonically it contains 2 major ii–V–I cadences and 4 minor ii–V–i, uses 43 different chords and moves between the key centres D minor, C major and C minor. In this atlas it appears on 18 album tracks.

Chord changes

Showing in: Concert (C) — C major

A
C/G
G7♭9
Cmaj7/G
Cmaj7/G
Fmaj7/G
G7♯5
Cmaj7/G
C7♭5/G♭
Fmaj7
B7
Em7
A7
Dm7
G7
1.
F/AF/AB♭m6
B♭m6G7/B
2.
Cmaj7
C7♭5
B
Fm7
Fmmaj7/E
Fm7/E♭
Dm7♭5
E♭maj7
B♭6/D
Cm7
B♭m6
Cm6
Cm6/B♭
Am7♭5
D7♭9
Fm7
Fmmaj7/E
Dm7♭5
G7♯5
A
C/G
G7♭9
Cmaj7/G
Cmaj7/G
Fmaj7/G
G7♯5
Cmaj7/G
C7♭5/G♭
Fmaj7
B7
Em7
A7
Dm7
G7
Cmaj7
G7♭9
·
Cmaj7/G
C7♭9/G♭
Fmaj7
Cadd9/E
Dm9
G7
Em7
Am7
D7
G♭dim7
C/G
Caug/A♭
Am7G6
Fm7E♭maj7
D♭maj7♯11
D♭maj7♯11
Cmaj7♯5
D♭/C
B♭/C
B/CC
Cmaj9

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

Harmonic analysis

2Major ii–V–I
4Minor ii–V–i
10ii–V moves
0Tritone substitutions
0Dominant chains
43Different chords

Most used chords

  • Cmaj7/G×10
  • C/G×4
  • G7♭9×4
  • G7♯5×4
  • Fmaj7×4
  • Em7×4

Key centres reached by ii–V

D minor, C major and C minor

Recorded on these albums

1959 Music from Odds Against Tomorrow
The Modern Jazz Quartet · “Skating in Central Park”
1960 Patterns
Modern Jazz Quartet · “Skating in Central Park”
1961 European Concert, Volume Two
The Modern Jazz Quartet · “Skating in Central Park”
1962 Undercurrent
Bill Evans & Jim Hall · “Skating in Central Park”
1975 The Complete Last Concert
The Modern Jazz Quartet · “Skating in Central Park”
1984 Friends
Joe Beck
1990 In Concert
The Modern Jazz Quartet
1990 Live and at Its Best
Modern Jazz Quartet · “Skating in Central Park”
1990 Scandinavia, April 1960
The Modern Jazz Quartet · “Skating in Central Park”
1995 Dedicated to Connie
The Modern Jazz Quartet · “Skating in Central Park”
1999 Live at the North Sea Jazz Festival
Jim Hall/Bob Brookmeyer · “Skating in Central Park”
2008 Guitars Two
Philip Catherine · “Skating in Central Park”
2010 1959 - Bonn, Beethovenhalle
The Modern Jazz Quartet · “Skating in Central Park”
2011 Pyramid + Patterns
The Modern Jazz Quartet · “Skating in Central Park”
2012 Milt Jackson: Scandinavia
Milt Jackson · “Skating in Central Park”
2021 Quartet (Standards) 2020
Anthony Braxton · “Skating in Central Park”
2023 The Early Albums Collection
Jim Hall · “Skating in Central Park”
— On Tour
The Modern Jazz Quartet · “Skating in Central Park”

Frequently asked questions

What key is Skating In Central Park in?

Skating In Central Park is usually played in C major. For B♭ instruments that is D major, for E♭ instruments A major.

Who wrote Skating In Central Park?

Skating In Central Park was written by John Lewis.

What is the form of Skating In Central Park?

Skating In Central Park has 4 sections (AABA) with 85 bars in total.

How fast is Skating In Central Park played?

The usual groove is Jazz waltz.

What are the chord changes to Skating In Central Park?

The opening bars are C/G | G7b9 | Cmaj7/G | Cmaj7/G. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.