ENDEIT

Standards

Skippy chords & key

Thelonious Monk

Key
A♭ major
Form
ABCD
Bars
32
Groove
Medium swing
Time signature
4/4

“Skippy” is a jazz standard by Thelonious Monk. It is usually played in A♭ major as a medium swing, and the 32-bar ABCD form has 4 sections. Harmonically it contains 1 major ii–V–I cadence, uses 14 different chords. In this atlas it appears in 1 transcribed solo.

Chord changes

Showing in: Concert (C) — A♭ major

A
D7G7
C7F7
B♭7A7
A♭7D♭7
G♭7F7
B♭7A7
A♭7
G7
B
G♭7F7
E7E♭7
A♭7G7
G♭7F7
B♭7A7
A♭7
G♭7B7
E7A7
C
D7G7
C7F7
B♭7A7
A♭7D♭7
G♭7F7
B♭7A7
A♭7D♭7
G♭7
D
D♭7C7B7B♭7
A7A♭7G7G♭7
B7B♭7A7A♭7
G7G♭7F7E7
B♭m7E♭7
B♭m7E♭7
B♭m7E♭7
A♭maj7

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

Harmonic analysis

1Major ii–V–I
0Minor ii–V–i
3ii–V moves
0Tritone substitutions
23Dominant chains
14Different chords

Most used chords

  • A7×8
  • A♭7×8
  • G♭7×8
  • F7×7
  • B♭7×7
  • G7×6

Transcribed solos on Skippy

Steve Lacy soprano saxophone 267 BPM Ab-maj 1958-10-17

Frequently asked questions

What key is Skippy in?

Skippy is usually played in A♭ major. For B♭ instruments that is B♭ major, for E♭ instruments F major.

Who wrote Skippy?

Skippy was written by Thelonious Monk.

What is the form of Skippy?

Skippy has 4 sections (ABCD) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is Skippy played?

The usual groove is Medium swing. Transcribed solos in our data were played at 267 BPM.

What are the chord changes to Skippy?

The opening bars are D7 G7 | C7 F7 | Bb7 A7 | Ab7 Db7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.