Standards
The Cool One chords & key
- Key
- G major
- Form
- AABA
- Bars
- 32
- Groove
- Medium swing
- Time signature
- 4/4
“The Cool One” is a jazz standard by Benny Golson. It is usually played in G major as a medium swing, and the 32-bar AABA form has 4 sections. Harmonically it contains 1 major ii–V–I cadence and 4 minor ii–V–i, uses 11 different chords and moves between the key centres A minor, G major and G minor.
Chord changes
Showing in: Concert (C) — G major
Changes as commonly played (concert pitch). Your band's version may differ.
Harmonic analysis
Most used chords
- Bm7×6
- E7×6
- Am7×6
- D7×6
- Gmaj7×3
- Bm7♭5×1
Key centres reached by ii–V
A minor, G major and G minor
Characteristics
- AABA song form
Standards with similar changes
Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.
| Title | Key |
|---|---|
| The Lamp Is Low 35% | C major |
| St. Thomas 33% | C major |
| Call Me 32% | G major |
| Honeysuckle Rose 32% | F major |
| Jeannie's Song 31% | F major |
| Little Boat (O Barquinho) 30% | B♭ major |
| Fly Me To The Moon 29% | C major |
| Satin Doll 29% | C major |
Frequently asked questions
What key is The Cool One in?
The Cool One is usually played in G major. For B♭ instruments that is A major, for E♭ instruments E major.
Who wrote The Cool One?
The Cool One was written by Benny Golson.
What is the form of The Cool One?
The Cool One has 4 sections (AABA) with 32 bars in total.
How fast is The Cool One played?
The usual groove is Medium swing.
What are the chord changes to The Cool One?
The opening bars are Bm7 | E7 | Bm7 | E7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.