ENDEIT

Standards

The Chase chords & key

Dexter Gordon

Key
B♭ major
Form
AABA
Bars
32
Groove
Medium-up swing
Time signature
4/4

“The Chase” is a jazz standard by Dexter Gordon. It is usually played in B♭ major as a medium-up swing, and the 32-bar AABA form has 4 sections. Harmonically it contains 3 major ii–V–I cadences, uses 13 different chords. In this atlas it appears on 1 album track.

Chord changes

Showing in: Concert (C) — B♭ major

A
×2
B♭6
B♭6
E♭7
E♭7
B♭6
E♭m7A♭7
Cm7F7
B♭6
B
Fm7B♭7
Fm7B♭7
Gm7Cm7
Gm7Cm7
A♭m7D♭7
A♭m7D♭7
Gm7Cm7
G♭m7B7
A
B♭6
B♭6
E♭7
E♭7
B♭6
E♭m7A♭7
Cm7F7
B♭6

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

Harmonic analysis

3Major ii–V–I
0Minor ii–V–i
11ii–V moves
1Tritone substitutions
0Dominant chains
13Different chords

Most used chords

  • B♭6×12
  • E♭7×6
  • Cm7×6
  • E♭m7×3
  • A♭7×3
  • F7×3

Characteristics

  • AABA song form

Recorded on these albums

1988 Homeboy
Eric Clapton · “Chase”

Frequently asked questions

What key is The Chase in?

The Chase is usually played in B♭ major. For B♭ instruments that is C major, for E♭ instruments G major.

Who wrote The Chase?

The Chase was written by Dexter Gordon.

What is the form of The Chase?

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

How fast is The Chase played?

The usual groove is Medium-up swing.

What are the chord changes to The Chase?

The opening bars are Bb6 | Bb6 | Eb7 | Eb7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.