Standards
When It's Sleepy Time Down South chords & key
- Key
- C major
- Form
- AABA
- Bars
- 32
- Groove
- Medium swing
- Time signature
- 4/4
“When It's Sleepy Time Down South” is a jazz standard. Most bands play it in C major, medium swing; the tune runs 32 bars in AABA form. Harmonically it contains 2 major ii–V–I cadences, uses 19 different chords. In this atlas it appears on 6 album tracks.
Chord changes
Showing in: Concert (C) — C major
A
1.
2.
B
A
Changes as commonly played (concert pitch). Your band's version may differ.
Harmonic analysis
2Major ii–V–I
0Minor ii–V–i
5ii–V moves
0Tritone substitutions
3Dominant chains
19Different chords
Most used chords
- Fmaj7×6
- G7×4
- E×4
- B♭7♯11×3
- Cmaj7×3
- Am7×3
Characteristics
- AABA song form
Recorded on these albums
| 1955 | Swingin’ Down Yonder Dean Martin · “When It’s Sleepy Time Down South” |
| 1957 | Dizzy at Home and Abroad Dizzy Gillespie |
| 1958 | Satchmo in Style Louis Armstrong · “When It’s Sleepy Time Down South” |
| 1959 | Last Recording Billie Holiday with Ray Ellis and His Orchestra · “When It’s Sleepy Time Down South” |
| 1975 | A Southern Memoir Bing Crosby · “Sleepy Time Down South” |
| 2004 | American Music Legends Louis Armstrong |
Historic 78 rpm recordings
- When It's Sleepy Time Down South The Roy Eldridge Quintet · Roy Eldridge · Oscar Peterson · Ray Brown… · 1954 archive.org ↗
- WHEN IT'S SLEEPY TIME DOWN SOUTH The Roy Eldridge Quintet · Roy Eldridge · Oscar Peterson · Ray Brown… · 1954 archive.org ↗
Frequently asked questions
What key is When It's Sleepy Time Down South in?
When It's Sleepy Time Down South is usually played in C major. For B♭ instruments that is D major, for E♭ instruments A major.
What is the form of When It's Sleepy Time Down South?
When It's Sleepy Time Down South has 4 sections (AABA) with 32 bars in total.
How fast is When It's Sleepy Time Down South played?
The usual groove is Medium swing.
What are the chord changes to When It's Sleepy Time Down South?
The opening bars are Fmaj7 | Bb7#11 | Cmaj7 Am7 | D7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.