What key is Afternoon In Paris in?

Afternoon In Paris was originally composed in the key of C. This page shows the chord chart transposed to A.

What is the form of Afternoon In Paris?

Afternoon In Paris is a 32-bar composition in AABA form, composed by John Lewis in 1949.

What scales to use to improvise over Afternoon In Paris?

To improvise over Afternoon In Paris in A, recommended scales are: A major, A dorian, A mixolydian, A bebop major, A major pentatonic.

Who composed Afternoon In Paris?

Afternoon In Paris was composed by John Lewis in 1949. It is a widely performed Jazz standard at jam sessions and concerts worldwide.

Afternoon In Paris in La

John Lewis(1949)swingMedium Swing

Afternoon In Paris in La

Afternoon In Paris in A — John Lewis's sophisticated European swing with clean ii-V-I architecture and refined melodic lines. Bebop Major over the tonic chords, Dorian and Mixolydian through the ii-V moves. Changes: AMaj7 – Am7 – D7 – GMaj7 – Gm7 – C7 – FMaj7 – Bm7b5 – E7b9 – Bm7 – E7.

Afternoon In Paris in La

A major is a rock and blues cornerstone. The open A string delivers a strong root, while both E strings ring as the fifth. Classic A-D-E progressions practically play themselves with open cowboy chords. The open high E is the fifth, reinforcing power. A is a beginner-level key on guitar because the open A string is the root and the open E strings provide the fifth above and below, creating a massive low-end anchor. Beginners will find this key approachable since most chords use open voicings with minimal stretching.

Voice Leading

The bass line moves through A to A (ascending unison), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to G (ascending unison), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to B (ascending tritone), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth). The root motion by larger intervals (fourths and fifths) gives each chord change a strong, decisive character. When the progression loops, the bass returns from E to A by perfect fourth.

Scales for Improvisation

A major pentatonic works because every note is either a chord tone or a safe passing tone — there are no avoid notes. For soloing, this means you can play freely without clashing. Over dominant seventh chords, A Mixolydian adds the flat seventh for an authentic blues-rock edge.

swing4/4 · 32 bars · Form: AABA

Chords: LaMaj7, Lam7, Re7, SolMaj7, Solm7, Do7, FaMaj7, Sim7♭5, Mi7♭9, Sim7, Mi7.

Scales for Improvisation La major, La dorian, La mixolydian, La bebop major, La major pentatonic.

Afternoon In Paris in La

Chord Diagrams — Afternoon In Paris in La (Guitar)

Afternoon In Paris in La

Afternoon In Paris in La

Voice Leading

Scales for Improvisation

Related Standards