Standards

Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise chords & key

Key: C minor
Form: AABA
Bars: 32
Groove: Medium swing
Time signature: 4/4

“Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise” is a jazz standard by Sigmund Romberg. Most bands play it in C minor, medium swing; the tune runs 32 bars in AABA form. Harmonically it contains 1 major ii–V–I cadence and 11 minor ii–V–i, uses 8 different chords and moves between the key centres C minor and E♭ major. In this atlas it appears on 24 album tracks and in 2 transcribed solos.

Chord changes

to key

Showing in: Concert (C) — C minor

C^m7

D^m7♭5G^7♭9

C^m7

D^m7♭5G^7♭9

C^m7

D^m7♭5G^7♭9

C^m7

D^m7♭5G^7♭9

C^m7

F^m7B♭⁷

E♭^maj7

C^7♭9

F^m7

G♭^dim7

D^m7♭5

G^7♭9

C^m7

D^m7♭5G^7♭9

C^m7

D^m7♭5G^7♭9

C^m7

D^m7♭5G^7♭9

C^m7

D^m7♭5G^7♭9

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

Harmonic analysis

1Major ii–V–I

11Minor ii–V–i

13ii–V moves

0Tritone substitutions

0Dominant chains

8Different chords

Most used chords

C^m7×12
D^m7♭5×12
G^7♭9×12
F^m7×2
E♭^maj7×2
C^7♭9×2

Key centres reached by ii–V

C minor and E♭ major

Characteristics

AABA song form

Recorded on these albums

1952	Modern Jazz Quartet Modern Jazz Quartet · “Softly as in a Morning Sunrise”
1955	Concorde The Modern Jazz Quartet · “Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise”
1957	New Tricks... Bing Crosby with Buddy Cole and His Trio
1957	A Night at the Village Vanguard Sonny Rollins · “Softly as in a Morning Sunrise”
1957	Introducing Lee Morgan Lee Morgan with Hank Mobley Quintet · “Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise”
1957	Paul Chambers Quintet Paul Chambers · “Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise”
1957	A Jazz Band Ball: Second Set Marty Paich · “Softly as in a Morning Sunrise”
1958	The Nearness Of You Helen Merrill · “Softly as in a Morning Sunrise”
1959	That's All Bobby Darin · “Softly as in a Morning Sunrise”
1959	Abbey Is Blue Abbey Lincoln · “Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise”
1959	Kelly Blue Wynton Kelly · “Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise”
1960	Say It With Music Ray Conniff · “Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise”
1960	Embers and Ashes Shirley Horn · “Softly as in a Morning Sunrise”
1960	Gettin’ Together! Art Pepper · “Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise”
1960	Movin' Right Along Arnett Cobb · “Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise”
1961	Where? Ron Carter with Eric Dolphy, Mal Waldron · “Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise”
1961	The Golden Eight Kenny Clarke with Francy Boland and Company · “Softly as in a Morning Sunrise”
1961	Sunny Side Up Lou Donaldson · “Softly as in a Morning Sunrise”
1961	Maggie's Back in Town!! Howard McGhee · “Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise”
1962	The First Recordings, Volume 2 Albert Ayler · “Softly as in a Morning Sunrise”
1964	People Roy Haynes & Frank Strozier · “Softly As In A Morning Sunrise (stereo)”
1965	Unity Larry Young · “Softly as in a Morning Sunrise”
1975	The Complete Last Concert The Modern Jazz Quartet · “Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise”
1975	At Pit Inn Sadao Watanabe · “Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise”

Transcribed solos on Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise

Milt Jackson vibraphone	137 BPM	C-min	1955-07-02
David Liebman soprano saxophone	261 BPM	C-min	1988

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

Title	Composer	Key	Form	Groove
Autumn Leaves 32%	Joseph Kosma	G minor	AABC · 32	Medium swing
Manha De Carnaval (Black Orpheus) 31%	Luiz Bonfa	A minor	AB · 37	Bossa nova
Don't Explain 27%	Billie Holiday	D minor	AABA · 32	Ballad
Road Song 25%	Wes Montgomery	G minor	AABA · 32	Latin
Serenade To A Cuckoo 24%	Roland Kirk	F minor	AB · 16	Medium swing
Spiral 22%	John Coltrane	B minor	AABA · 44	Medium-up swing
Idle Moments 21%	Grant Green	C minor	A · 16	Slow swing
Nature Boy 21%	Eden Ahbez	D minor	ABAC · 32	Ballad

Frequently asked questions

What key is Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise in?

Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise is usually played in C minor. For B♭ instruments that is D minor, for E♭ instruments A minor.

Who wrote Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise?

Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise was written by Sigmund Romberg.

What is the form of Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise?

Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise has 4 sections (AABA) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise played?

The usual groove is Medium swing. Transcribed solos in our data were played at 137 BPM and 261 BPM.

What are the chord changes to Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise?

The opening bars are Cm7 | Dm7b5 G7b9 | Cm7 | Dm7b5 G7b9. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.