Standards
The Duke chords & key
- Key
- C major
- Form
- AABA
- Bars
- 32
- Groove
- Medium swing
- Time signature
- 4/4
“The Duke” is a jazz standard by Dave Brubeck. Most bands play it in C major, medium swing; the tune runs 32 bars in AABA form. Harmonically it contains 6 major ii–V–I cadences and 2 minor ii–V–i, uses 29 different chords and moves between the key centres E♭ major, A♭ major, C minor and B♭ minor. In this atlas it appears on 4 album tracks.
Chord changes
Showing in: Concert (C) — C major
Changes as commonly played (concert pitch). Your band's version may differ.
Harmonic analysis
Most used chords
- Cmaj7×7
- Am7×6
- B♭m7×6
- Fm7×5
- Fmaj7×4
- Cm7×4
Key centres reached by ii–V
E♭ major, A♭ major, C minor and B♭ minor
Characteristics
- AABA song form
Recorded on these albums
Frequently asked questions
What key is The Duke in?
The Duke is usually played in C major. For B♭ instruments that is D major, for E♭ instruments A major.
Who wrote The Duke?
The Duke was written by Dave Brubeck.
What is the form of The Duke?
The Duke has 4 sections (AABA) with 32 bars in total.
How fast is The Duke played?
The usual groove is Medium swing.
What are the chord changes to The Duke?
The opening bars are Cmaj7 Fmaj7 | Em7/G Am7 B7 | Em7 Am7 | Dm7 Fm7 Bb7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.