ENDEIT

Standards

This Could Be The Start Of Something Big chords & key

Steve Allen

Key
E♭ major
Form
AAB
Bars
52
Groove
Up-tempo swing
Time signature
4/4

“This Could Be The Start Of Something Big” is a jazz standard by Steve Allen. Most bands play it in E♭ major, up-tempo swing; the tune runs 52 bars in AAB form. Harmonically it contains 5 major ii–V–I cadences and 2 minor ii–V–i, uses 18 different chords and moves between the key centres E♭ major, F minor and A♭ major.

Chord changes

Showing in: Concert (C) — E♭ major

A
E♭maj7
Cm7
Fm7
B♭7C7♭13
Fm7
B♭7
Cm7B7
B♭m7A7♯11
A♭maj7
Adim7
Gm7/B♭
C7♭9
1.
Fm7
B♭7
Gm7G♭7
Fm7B♭7
2.
Fm7
B♭7
E♭6
E♭6
B
B♭m7
E♭7
B♭m7
E♭7
B♭m7
E♭7
B♭m7
E♭7
A♭maj7
B♭m7E♭7
A♭maj7
A♭maj7
A♭maj7
F7
B♭7sus
B♭7
1.
Fm7
B♭7
E♭6
B♭7

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

Harmonic analysis

5Major ii–V–I
2Minor ii–V–i
15ii–V moves
5Tritone substitutions
1Dominant chains
18Different chords

Most used chords

  • B♭7×10
  • Fm7×8
  • B♭m7×7
  • A♭maj7×6
  • E♭7×5
  • Cm7×4

Key centres reached by ii–V

E♭ major, F minor and A♭ major

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

TitleComposerKeyFormGroove
The Things We Did Last Summer 30% Cahn-Styne F major AABA · 32 Medium swing
Cabaret 29% Kander-Ebb E♭ major AAB · 44 Medium swing
Down In The Depths 26% Cole Porter G major AAB · 54 Medium swing
Eclypso 26% Tommy Flanagan E♭ major AABA · 32 Latin/swing
I'm Putting All My Eggs In One Basket 26% Irving Berlin C major AABA · 32 Medium swing
I Want To Be Happy 24% Vincent Youmans C major AABA · 32 Medium-up swing
Taking A Chance On Love 24% Vernon Duke F major AABA · 32 Medium swing
Again 23% Lionel Newman G major AABC · 32 Ballad

Frequently asked questions

What key is This Could Be The Start Of Something Big in?

This Could Be The Start Of Something Big is usually played in E♭ major. For B♭ instruments that is F major, for E♭ instruments C major.

Who wrote This Could Be The Start Of Something Big?

This Could Be The Start Of Something Big was written by Steve Allen.

What is the form of This Could Be The Start Of Something Big?

This Could Be The Start Of Something Big has 3 sections (AAB) with 52 bars in total.

How fast is This Could Be The Start Of Something Big played?

The usual groove is Up-tempo swing.

What are the chord changes to This Could Be The Start Of Something Big?

The opening bars are Ebmaj7 | Cm7 | Fm7 | Bb7 C7b13. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.