Standards · 1962
Watermelon Man chords & key
- Key
- F major
- Form
- A
- Bars
- 16
- Groove
- Even eighths
- Time signature
- 4/4
- Year
- 1962
“Watermelon Man” is a jazz standard by Herbie Hancock from 1962. Most bands play it in F major, even eighths; the tune runs 16 bars in A form. In this atlas it appears on 6 album tracks.
Chord changes
Showing in: Concert (C) — F major
Changes as commonly played (concert pitch). Your band's version may differ.
Harmonic analysis
Most used chords
- F7♯9×8
- B♭9×5
- C9×3
History
"Watermelon Man" is a jazz standard written by Herbie Hancock for his debut album, Takin' Off (1962). Hancock's first version was recorded in a hard bop style, featuring solos by trumpeter Freddie Hubbard and saxophonist Dexter Gordon. A single release reached #12 on Billboard's Bubbling Under chart in March 1963. Afro-Cuban percussionist Mongo Santamaría subsequently released a version, with vocals, which became a surprise hit, reaching No. 10 on the Hot 100 in April 1963. Santamaría's recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998. Hancock later recorded a funk version of "Watermelon Man" for the album Head Hunters (1973).
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Recorded on these albums
Standards with similar changes
Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.
| Title | Key |
|---|---|
| Jumpin With Symphony Sid 67% | B♭ major |
| Bessie's Blues 57% | E♭ major |
| Eighty One 57% | F major |
| St. Louis Blues 57% | G major |
| Freddie Freeloader 44% | B♭ major |
| C-Jam Blues 29% | C major |
| Blue Monk 25% | B♭ major |
| Blue Sphere 25% | B♭ major |
Frequently asked questions
What key is Watermelon Man in?
Watermelon Man is usually played in F major. For B♭ instruments that is G major, for E♭ instruments D major.
Who wrote Watermelon Man?
Watermelon Man was written by Herbie Hancock (1962).
What is the form of Watermelon Man?
Watermelon Man has 1 sections (A) with 16 bars in total.
How fast is Watermelon Man played?
The usual groove is Even eighths.
What are the chord changes to Watermelon Man?
The opening bars are F7#9 | F7#9 | F7#9 | F7#9. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.