ENDEIT

Standards

Trinkle Tinkle chords & key

Thelonious Monk

Key
E♭ major
Form
AABA
Bars
32
Groove
Medium swing
Time signature
4/4

“Trinkle Tinkle” is a jazz standard by Thelonious Monk. Most bands play it in E♭ major, medium swing; the tune runs 32 bars in AABA form. Harmonically it contains 4 major ii–V–I cadences, uses 18 different chords and moves between the key centres E♭ major and A♭ major.

Chord changes

Showing in: Concert (C) — E♭ major

A
×2
B♭m7E♭7
A7♯11
A♭7D♭7
G♭7B7
E7Fm7
B♭7♯5E♭maj7
E♭maj7
E♭maj7
B
B♭m7
E♭7♯11
A♭maj7
Gm7♭5
Cm7F7
A♭7A7
G♭7B7
Fm7B♭7
A
B♭m7E♭7
A7♯11
A♭7D♭7
G♭7B7
E7Fm7
B♭7♯5E♭maj7
E♭maj7
E♭maj7

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

Harmonic analysis

4Major ii–V–I
0Minor ii–V–i
9ii–V moves
0Tritone substitutions
13Dominant chains
18Different chords

Most used chords

  • E♭maj7×9
  • B♭m7×4
  • A♭7×4
  • G♭7×4
  • B7×4
  • Fm7×4

Key centres reached by ii–V

E♭ major and A♭ major

Characteristics

  • AABA song form

Frequently asked questions

What key is Trinkle Tinkle in?

Trinkle Tinkle is usually played in E♭ major. For B♭ instruments that is F major, for E♭ instruments C major.

Who wrote Trinkle Tinkle?

Trinkle Tinkle was written by Thelonious Monk.

What is the form of Trinkle Tinkle?

Trinkle Tinkle has 4 sections (AABA) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is Trinkle Tinkle played?

The usual groove is Medium swing.

What are the chord changes to Trinkle Tinkle?

The opening bars are Bbm7 Eb7 | A7#11 | Ab7 Db7 | Gb7 B7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.