Standards

Stars Fell On Alabama chords & key

Key: C major
Form: AABA
Bars: 32
Groove: Ballad
Time signature: 4/4

“Stars Fell On Alabama” is a jazz standard by Frank Perkins. Most bands play it in C major, ballad; the tune runs 32 bars in AABA form. Harmonically it contains 10 major ii–V–I cadences and 5 minor ii–V–i, uses 17 different chords and moves between the key centres C major, D minor, A minor and E major. In this atlas it appears on 8 album tracks.

Chord changes

to key

Showing in: Concert (C) — C major

C^maj7A⁷

D^m7G⁷

C^maj7F^maj7

E^m7A^7♭9

D^m7

G⁷

C^maj7A⁷

D^m7G⁷

C⁶F^m7

C⁶A⁷

D^m7G⁷

E^m7A⁷

D^m7G⁷

C⁶A⁷

D^m7D^m_/CB^m7♭5E⁷

A^m7A^m7_/G

G♭^m7B⁷

E^maj7D^m7G⁷

C^maj7A⁷

D^m7G⁷

C^maj7F^maj7

E^m7A^7♭9

D^m7

G⁷

C^maj7A⁷

D^m7G⁷

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

Harmonic analysis

10Major ii–V–I

5Minor ii–V–i

17ii–V moves

0Tritone substitutions

0Dominant chains

17Different chords

Most used chords

D^m7×12
G⁷×11
C^maj7×8
A⁷×8
E^m7×4
F^maj7×3

Key centres reached by ii–V

C major, D minor, A minor and E major

Characteristics

AABA song form

Recorded on these albums

1956	Ella and Louis Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong · “Stars Fell on Alabama”
1956	In a Romantic Mood Oscar Peterson · “Stars Fell on Alabama”
1957	A Swingin’ Affair! Frank Sinatra · “Stars Fell on Alabama”
1958	Songs for Distingué Lovers Billie Holiday · “Stars Fell on Alabama”
1975	A Southern Memoir Bing Crosby · “Stars Fell on Alabama”
2008	Ella & Louis (and Oscar Too) Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong & The Oscar Peterson Trio · “Stars Fell on Alabama”
2025	Jukebox Ella: The Complete Verve Singles, Volume 2 Ella Fitzgerald · “Stars Fell on Alabama”
—	Ella Et Louis Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong · “Stars Fell on Alabama”

Historic 78 rpm recordings

"STARS FELL ON ALABAMA" EDDIE MILLER · GEORGE VAN EPS · STANLEY WRIGHTSMAN · Parish · Perkins archive.org ↗
STARS FELL ON ALABAMA DAVE BOWMAN QUARTET · Bill Stegmeyer · Dave Bowman · Bob Haggart ·… · 1945 archive.org ↗
STARS FELL ON ALABAMA JOHNNIE GUARNIERI · Morey Feld · Leo Guarnieri · Perkins · Parish · 1946 archive.org ↗
Stars Fell on Alabama Johnny Smith Quintet · Johnny Smith · Stan Getz · Parish · Perkins · 1952 archive.org ↗

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

Title	Composer	Key	Form	Groove
My Little Suede Shoes 35%	Charlie Parker	E♭ major	AABA · 32	Latin
Too Young To Go Steady 30%	Jimmy McHugh	F major	AABA · 32	Ballad
Valse Hot 28%	Sonny Rollins	A♭ major	A · 16	Jazz waltz
Just Squeeze Me 27%	Duke Ellington	F major	AABA · 32	Medium swing
The Lady is a Tramp 26%	Richard Rodgers	C major	AABC · 48	Medium swing
Don't Be That Way 23%	Edgar Sampson	D♭ major	AABA · 32	Medium swing
Sometimes I'm Happy 23%	Vincent Youmans	F major	ABAB · 32	Medium swing
Fly Me To The Moon 22%	Bart Howard	C major	AB · 32	Medium swing

Frequently asked questions

What key is Stars Fell On Alabama in?

Stars Fell On Alabama is usually played in C major. For B♭ instruments that is D major, for E♭ instruments A major.

Who wrote Stars Fell On Alabama?

Stars Fell On Alabama was written by Frank Perkins.

What is the form of Stars Fell On Alabama?

Stars Fell On Alabama has 4 sections (AABA) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is Stars Fell On Alabama played?

The usual groove is Ballad.

What are the chord changes to Stars Fell On Alabama?

The opening bars are Cmaj7 A7 | Dm7 G7 | Cmaj7 Fmaj7 | Em7 A7b9. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.