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 B.

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 B, recommended scales are: B major, B dorian, B mixolydian, B bebop major, B 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 Si

John Lewis(1949)swingMedium Swing

Afternoon In Paris in Si

Afternoon In Paris in B — 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: BMaj7 – Bm7 – E7 – AMaj7 – Am7 – D7 – GMaj7 – C#m7b5 – F#7b9 – C#m7 – F#7.

Afternoon In Paris in Si

B major mixes barre and open elements. The B chord itself is a barre at fret 2, but E and A are comfortable open chords forming the IV and V. The open B string rings as the root, allowing creative drone-based arrangements. B is a intermediate-level key on guitar because the open B string rings as the root and the open E strings provide the 4th — useful for sus4 voicings and drone effects. This key mixes open and barre shapes, making it a good intermediate challenge that builds fretboard fluency.

Voice Leading

The bass line moves through B to B (ascending unison), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to A (ascending unison), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C# (ascending tritone), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to C# (descending perfect fourth), C# to F# (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 F# to B by perfect fourth.

Scales for Improvisation

B 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, B Mixolydian adds the flat seventh for an authentic blues-rock edge.

swing4/4 · 32 bars · Form: AABA

Chords: SiMaj7, Sim7, Mi7, LaMaj7, Lam7, Re7, SolMaj7, Do♯m7♭5, Fa♯7♭9, Do♯m7, Fa♯7.

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

Afternoon In Paris in Si

Chord Diagrams — Afternoon In Paris in Si (Guitar)

Afternoon In Paris in Si

Afternoon In Paris in Si

Voice Leading

Scales for Improvisation

Related Standards