ENDEIT

Standards

Tiny Capers chords & key

Clifford Brown

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

“Tiny Capers” is a jazz standard by Clifford Brown. Most bands play it in B♭ major, medium-up swing; the tune runs 32 bars in AABA form. Harmonically it contains 3 major ii–V–I cadences and 3 minor ii–V–i, uses 16 different chords and moves between the key centres B♭ major and C minor.

Chord changes

Showing in: Concert (C) — B♭ major

A
B♭6D7
Gm7B♭7
E♭maj7G7
Cm7D♭dim7
Dm7E♭7
Dm7G7
1.
Gm7C7
Cm7F7
2.
Cm7F7
B♭7
B
E♭7♭9
E♭7♭9
B♭7♯11
B♭7♯11
E♭7♭9
E♭m7A♭7
Dm7G7
Cm7F7
A
B♭6D7
Gm7B♭7
E♭maj7G7
Cm7D♭dim7
Dm7E♭7
Dm7G7
Cm7F7
B♭6F7

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

Harmonic analysis

3Major ii–V–I
3Minor ii–V–i
10ii–V moves
3Tritone substitutions
3Dominant chains
16Different chords

Most used chords

  • G7×7
  • Cm7×7
  • Dm7×7
  • F7×5
  • B♭6×4
  • Gm7×4

Key centres reached by ii–V

B♭ major and C minor

Characteristics

  • AABA song form

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

TitleComposerKeyFormGroove
This Time The Dream's On Me 23% Harold Arlen G major AABA · 32 Medium-up swing
Better Git It In Your Soul 21% Charles Mingus F major AABA · 38 Up-tempo swing
On The Sunny Side Of The Street 21% Jimmy McHugh C major AABA · 32 Medium swing

Frequently asked questions

What key is Tiny Capers in?

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

Who wrote Tiny Capers?

Tiny Capers was written by Clifford Brown.

What is the form of Tiny Capers?

Tiny Capers has 4 sections (AABA) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is Tiny Capers played?

The usual groove is Medium-up swing.

What are the chord changes to Tiny Capers?

The opening bars are Bb6 D7 | Gm7 Bb7 | Ebmaj7 G7 | Cm7 Dbdim7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.