Standards · 1954

Sway chords & key

Ruiz-Gimbel · Lyrics: Luis Demetrio, Norman Gimbel, Pablo Beltrán Ruiz

Key: G minor
Form: AABA
Bars: 32
Groove: Latin
Time signature: 4/4
Year: 1954

“Sway” is a jazz standard by Ruiz-Gimbel from 1954. It is usually played in G minor as a latin, and the 32-bar AABA form has 4 sections. Harmonically it contains no major ii–V–I cadences and 3 minor ii–V–i, uses 6 different chords. In this atlas it appears on 14 album tracks.

Chord changes

to key

Showing in: Concert (C) — G minor

A^m7♭5D⁷

G^m7

E♭⁷D⁷

G^m7

F⁷

B♭^maj7

D⁷

G^m7

D⁷

A^m7♭5D⁷

G^m7

E♭⁷D⁷

G^m7

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

Harmonic analysis

0Major ii–V–I

3Minor ii–V–i

6ii–V moves

0Tritone substitutions

0Dominant chains

6Different chords

Most used chords

D⁷×15
G^m7×13
A^m7♭5×6
E♭⁷×6
F⁷×2
B♭^maj7×2

Characteristics

AABA song form

Recorded on these albums

1960	A Touch of Tabasco Rosemary Clooney & Pérez Prado
1963	Latin in a Satin Mood Julie London
1965	Manteca! Clare Fischer · “Sway (Quien Sera)”
1968	Cab Calloway ’68 Cab Calloway
1975	Swiss Air: Live at Montreux 1975 渡辺貞夫
2003	Michael Bublé Michael Bublé
2004	Come Fly With Me Michael Bublé
2005	Caught in the Act Michael Bublé
2009	Crazy Love Michael Bublé · “Sway (Ralphi’s Salsation edit)”
2013	Get Happy Pink Martini
2016	You Belong To Me Malene Mortensen
2017	Turn Up the Quiet Diana Krall
2022	Hver gang vi møtes Bernhoft
—	The Sinatra Project, Vol. II: The Good Life Michael Feinstein

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

Title	Composer	Key	Form	Groove
Comes Love 45%	Brown-Stept-Tobias	G minor	AABA · 32	Medium swing
Maybe September 25%	Percy Faith	A minor	AB · 24	Bossa nova
The Boulevard Of Broken Dreams 23%	Dubin-Warren	D minor	AABA · 32	Ballad
My Heart Belongs To Daddy 23%	Cole Porter	C minor	AABC · 32	Medium-up swing
Minor Mood 22%	Clifford Brown	F minor	AB · 24	Medium swing
No Splice 22%	Lee Konitz	G minor	AB · 32	Medium-up swing
Sugar 22%	Stanley Turrentine	C minor	A · 16	Medium swing
Interplay 21%	Bill Evans	F minor	A · 12	Medium swing

Frequently asked questions

What key is Sway in?

Sway is usually played in G minor. For B♭ instruments that is A minor, for E♭ instruments E minor.

Who wrote Sway?

Sway was written by Ruiz-Gimbel (1954).

What is the form of Sway?

Sway has 4 sections (AABA) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is Sway played?

The usual groove is Latin.

What are the chord changes to Sway?

The opening bars are Am7b5 D7 | Am7b5 D7 | Gm7 | Gm7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.