Standards

Strike Up The Band chords & key

Key: E♭ major
Form: ABCD
Bars: 32
Groove: Up-tempo swing
Time signature: 4/4

“Strike Up The Band” is a jazz standard by George Gershwin. It is usually played in E♭ major as a up-tempo swing, and the 32-bar ABCD form has 4 sections. Harmonically it contains 6 major ii–V–I cadences and 2 minor ii–V–i, uses 15 different chords and moves between the key centres E♭ major, A♭ major, C minor and F minor. In this atlas it appears on 24 album tracks.

Chord changes

to key

Showing in: Concert (C) — E♭ major

E♭^maj7

E^dim7

F^m7

B♭⁷

E♭^maj7

B♭^m7E♭⁷

A♭^maj7

A^dim7

B♭^m7

E♭⁷

A♭^maj7A♭^maj7_/G

F^m7B♭⁷

E♭^maj7

D^m7♭5

G^7♭9

C^m7

F⁷

F^m7

B♭⁷

E♭^maj7

G^m7♭5

C^7♭9

F^m7

B♭⁷

E♭^maj7

F^m7B♭⁷

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

Harmonic analysis

6Major ii–V–I

2Minor ii–V–i

10ii–V moves

0Tritone substitutions

0Dominant chains

15Different chords

Most used chords

E♭^maj7×8
F^m7×5
B♭⁷×5
A♭^maj7×3
E^dim7×2
B♭^m7×2

Key centres reached by ii–V

E♭ major, A♭ major, C minor and F minor

Recorded on these albums

1951	At Storyville / At The Hickory House Marian McPartland · “Strike Up the Band”
1952	On Parade Sidney Bechet & Claude Luter · “Strike up the Band”
1953	Oscar Peterson Plays George Gershwin Oscar Peterson
1955	Autumn in New York Tal Farlow · “Strike Up the Band”
1955	Shifting Winds Bob Cooper · “Strike Up the Band”
1956	Sonny Stitt Bud Powell J.J. Johnson Sonny Stitt, Bud Powell & J.J. Johnson · “Strike Up the Band”
1957	In Three Attitudes Jimmy Raney · “Strike Up the Band”
1959	Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Song Book Ella Fitzgerald · “Strike Up the Band”
1959	Count Basie and His Orchestra Swings / Tony Bennett Sings Basie / Bennett · “Strike Up the Band”
1959	Chris in Person Chris Connor · “Strike Up the Band”
1961	Genius + Soul = Jazz Ray Charles · “Strike Up the Band”
1961	The Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Cookbook Vol. 3 Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis With Shirley Scott
1961	String Band Strum-Along Tony Mottola · “Strike Up the Band”
1966	Buck Clayton Plays Buck Clayton · “Strike Up the Band”
1966	Rex Stewart Meets Henri Chaix Rex Stewart, Henri Chaix
1967	Matt Sings, Nelson Swings Matt Monro & Nelson Riddle · “Strike Up the Band”
1967	Underground Soul! Houston Person · “Strike Up the Band”
1972	Count Basie + Voices Count Basie · “Strike Up the Band”
1980	Rosemary Clooney Sings the Lyrics of Ira Gershwin Rosemary Clooney · “Strike Up the Band”
1981	Blythe Spirit Arthur Blythe
1982	Strike Up The Band Red Garland
1985	Plays Gershwin & Kern Erroll Garner · “Strike Up the Band”
1986	George Gershwin's Song Book Leonard Pennario & George Gershwin · “Strike up the band”
1986	Charlie Parker in Sweden 1950 Charlie Parker · “Strike Up the Band”

Historic 78 rpm recordings

Strike up the Band Rolf Ericson And His Swingin' Swedes · Rolf Ericson · Arne Domnerus… archive.org ↗
Strike Up the Band Jørgen Lausen's sextet · Johnny Andersson · Max Brüel · Mogens… archive.org ↗

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

Title	Composer	Key	Form	Groove
S'posin' 41%	Paul Denniker	B♭ major	ABAC · 32	Medium swing
Billy Boy 34%	Traditional	C major	AABA · 56	Medium-up swing
Try A Little Tenderness 33%	Harry Woods	E♭ major	AABA · 32	Ballad
Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home 32%	Hughie Cannon	G major	ABAC · 32	Medium-up swing
The Good Life 32%	Sacha Distel	A♭ major	AB · 32	Ballad
I'm Glad There Is You 32%	Jimmy Dorsey	F major	ABCA · 36	Ballad
I've Never Been In Love Before 32%	Frank Loesser	B♭ major	AABA · 32	Medium swing
Oh, Lady Be Good 32%	George Gershwin	G major	AABA · 32	Medium-up swing

Frequently asked questions

What key is Strike Up The Band in?

Strike Up The Band is usually played in E♭ major. For B♭ instruments that is F major, for E♭ instruments C major.

Who wrote Strike Up The Band?

Strike Up The Band was written by George Gershwin.

What is the form of Strike Up The Band?

Strike Up The Band has 4 sections (ABCD) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is Strike Up The Band played?

The usual groove is Up-tempo swing.

What are the chord changes to Strike Up The Band?

The opening bars are Ebmaj7 | Ebmaj7 | Edim7 | Edim7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.