What key is Now's The Time in?

Now's The Time was originally composed in the key of F. This page shows the chord chart transposed to C#.

What is the form of Now's The Time?

Now's The Time is a 12-bar composition in A form, composed by Charlie Parker in 1945.

What scales to use to improvise over Now's The Time?

To improvise over Now's The Time in C#, recommended scales are: C# major blues, C# mixolydian, C# minor pentatonic, C# bebop major, C# major pentatonic.

Who composed Now's The Time?

Now's The Time was composed by Charlie Parker in 1945. It is a widely performed Jazz standard at jam sessions and concerts worldwide.

Now's The Time in Do#

Charlie Parker(1945)swingMedium Swing

Section A

BPM: 140

Chord Diagrams — Now's The Time in Do# (Guitar)

Chord Voicings Closest Voicing

Now's The Time in Do#

Bird's medium-tempo blues is a foundational text in jazz improvisation, weaving Mixolydian, Blues, and Bebop Major vocabulary into an irresistible C# groove. The accessible tempo makes it ideal for internalizing bebop blues phrasing with nuance and swing. Every improviser should have the C#7 – F#7 – D#m7 – G#7 changes memorized as essential repertoire.

Now's The Time in Do#

C# major (or Db) sits in barre chord territory across the fretboard. Every chord demands precise barring, but the payoff is a bright, crystalline sound a half step above C that cuts through a band mix. C# is a intermediate-advanced-level key on guitar because no open strings fall within the key naturally, so every chord requires full barre technique. Expect to rely on barre chords throughout, which builds hand strength and unlocks the entire fretboard.

Voice Leading

The bass line moves through C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to D# (descending minor third), D# to G# (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 G# to C# by perfect fourth.

Scales for Improvisation

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

swing4/4 · 12 bars · Form: A

Chords: Do♯7, Fa♯7, Re♯m7, Sol♯7.

Scales for Improvisation Do# major blues, Do# mixolydian, Do# minor pentatonic, Do# bebop major, Do# major pentatonic.

Now's The Time in Do#

Chord Diagrams — Now's The Time in Do# (Guitar)

Now's The Time in Do#

Now's The Time in Do#

Voice Leading

Scales for Improvisation

Related Standards