Standards

The Meaning Of The Blues chords & key

Key
D minor
Form
ABAC
Bars
32
Groove
Even eighths
Time signature
4/4

“The Meaning Of The Blues” is a jazz standard by Worth-Troup. Most bands play it in D minor, even eighths; the tune runs 32 bars in ABAC form. Harmonically it contains 1 major ii–V–I cadence and 3 minor ii–V–i, uses 20 different chords and moves between the key centres D minor and F major. In this atlas it appears on 21 album tracks.

Chord changes

Showing in: Concert (C) — D minor

A
DmDmaug
Dm6D7♯9
Gm7Gm7/F
Em7♭5A7♭9
DmDmaug
Dm6D7♯9
Gm7
B♭m6C7
B
Fmaj7Dm7
Gm7C7
Fmaj7
Em7♭5A7♭9
Dm7G7
Dm7G7
Gm7B♭7
A7♭9
A
DmDmaug
Dm6D7♯9
Gm7Gm7/F
Em7♭5A7♭9
DmDmaug
Dm6D7♯9
Gm7
B♭m6C7
C
Cm7
F7susF7
B♭maj7
B♭m6E♭7
Dm7G7
Dm7G7
Gm7B♭7A7
Dm

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

Harmonic analysis

1Major ii–V–I
3Minor ii–V–i
10ii–V moves
1Tritone substitutions
0Dominant chains
20Different chords

Most used chords

  • Gm7×7
  • Dm×5
  • Dm7×5
  • Dmaug×4
  • Dm6×4
  • D7♯9×4

Key centres reached by ii–V

D minor and F major

Characteristics

  • ABAC song form

Recorded on these albums

1957 Miles Ahead
Miles Davis · “The Meaning of the Blues”
1957 About the Blues
Julie London · “Meaning of the Blues”
1959 You’ve Got a Date With the Blues
Helen Merrill · “The Meaning of the Blues”
1960 Introducing Linda Lawson
Linda Lawson · “Meaning of the Blues”
1963 That's How I Love the Blues!
Mark Murphy · “The Meaning of the Blues”
1971 Childhood Is Forever
Steve Kuhn · “The Meaning of the Blues”
1973 Giant Steps
Woody Herman · “The Meaning of the Blues”
1973 Waitaminute
Peter Herbolzheimer Rhythm Combination & Brass · “The Meaning of the Blues”
1976 There Comes a Time
Gil Evans · “The Meaning of the Blues”
1978 Little Wing
Gil Evans · “The Meaning of the Blues”
1989 Something Borrowed... Something New
Karin Krog
1990 Now You See It... (Now You Don't)
Michael Brecker · “The Meaning of the Blues”
1990 As Long as There's Music
Cedar Walton · “Meaning of Blues”
1993 Live at Maybeck Recital Hall, Volume Twenty-Five
Cedar Walton · “The Meaning of the Blues”
1995 Tangence
J.J. Johnson, The Robert Farnon Orchestra · “The Meaning of the Blues”
1996 The Main Ingredient
Shirley Horn · “The Meaning of Blues”
1998 Standards in Silhouette
Stan Kenton · “The Meaning of the Blues”
1998 Jazz 'Round Midnight
Shirley Horn
2002 Bittersweet
Carmen McRae · “The Meaning of the Blues”
2005 Straight Ahead
Sheila Jordan & E.S.P. Trio · “The Meaning of the Blues”
2025 Detour
Boz Scaggs · “The Meaning of the Blues”

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

TitleComposerKeyFormGroove
Beautiful Love 22% Victor Young D minor AA · 32 Medium swing
I'm A Fool To Want You 21% Herron-Sinatra-Wolf E minor AABA · 40 Ballad

Frequently asked questions

What key is The Meaning Of The Blues in?

The Meaning Of The Blues is usually played in D minor. For B♭ instruments that is E minor, for E♭ instruments B minor.

Who wrote The Meaning Of The Blues?

The Meaning Of The Blues was written by Worth-Troup.

What is the form of The Meaning Of The Blues?

The Meaning Of The Blues has 4 sections (ABAC) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is The Meaning Of The Blues played?

The usual groove is Even eighths.

What are the chord changes to The Meaning Of The Blues?

The opening bars are Dm Dmaug | Dm6 D7#9 | Gm7 Gm7/F | Em7b5 A7b9. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.