ENDEIT

Standards

Surrey With The Fringe On The Top chords & key

Richard Rodgers

Key
B♭ major
Form
AABAC
Bars
40
Groove
Medium swing
Time signature
4/4

“Surrey With The Fringe On The Top” is a jazz standard by Richard Rodgers. Most bands play it in B♭ major, medium swing; the tune runs 40 bars in AABAC form. Harmonically it contains 12 major ii–V–I cadences and 6 minor ii–V–i, uses 15 different chords and moves between the key centres B♭ major, G minor, C minor, E♭ major and F major.

Chord changes

Showing in: Concert (C) — B♭ major

A
×2
B♭maj7Bdim7
Cm7F7
B♭maj7Bdim7
Cm7F7
B♭maj7Bdim7
Am7♭5D7
Gm7C7
Cm7F7
B
Fm7B♭7
E♭6C7
Fm7B♭7
E♭6
Gm7C7
F6D7
Gm7C7
Cm7F7
A
B♭maj7Bdim7
Cm7F7
B♭maj7Bdim7
Cm7F7
B♭maj7Bdim7
Am7♭5D7
Gm7C7
Cm7F7
C
Dm7G7
Cm7F7
Dm7G7
Cm7F7
Dm7G7
Cm7F7
B♭6
B♭6

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

Harmonic analysis

12Major ii–V–I
6Minor ii–V–i
26ii–V moves
0Tritone substitutions
0Dominant chains
15Different chords

Most used chords

  • Cm7×13
  • F7×13
  • B♭maj7×9
  • Bdim7×9
  • C7×6
  • Gm7×5

Key centres reached by ii–V

B♭ major, G minor, C minor, E♭ major and F major

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

TitleComposerKeyFormGroove
The Best Things In Life Are Free 42% DeSylva-Brown-Henderson C major AB · 32 Medium-up swing
The Joker 35% Lee Morgan E♭ major AABA · 32 Medium swing
On The Sunny Side Of The Street 33% Jimmy McHugh C major AABA · 32 Medium swing
Moonlight Becomes You 32% Jimmy Van-Heusen F major AABA · 34 Ballad
At Last 28% Harry Warren C major AABA · 32 Medium swing
This Year's Kisses 28% Irving Berlin G major AABC · 28 Medium swing
Love Is The Sweetest Thing 27% Ray Noble D major AABA · 32 Medium swing
Look For The Silver Lining 26% Jerome Kern E♭ major ABA · 32 Medium swing

Frequently asked questions

What key is Surrey With The Fringe On The Top in?

Surrey With The Fringe On The Top is usually played in B♭ major. For B♭ instruments that is C major, for E♭ instruments G major.

Who wrote Surrey With The Fringe On The Top?

Surrey With The Fringe On The Top was written by Richard Rodgers.

What is the form of Surrey With The Fringe On The Top?

Surrey With The Fringe On The Top has 5 sections (AABAC) with 40 bars in total.

How fast is Surrey With The Fringe On The Top played?

The usual groove is Medium swing.

What are the chord changes to Surrey With The Fringe On The Top?

The opening bars are Bbmaj7 Bdim7 | Cm7 F7 | Bbmaj7 Bdim7 | Cm7 F7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.