What key is A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square in?

A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square was originally composed in the key of Eb. This page shows the chord chart transposed to B.

What is the form of A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square?

A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square is a 56-bar composition in AABBA form, composed by Manning Sherwin in null.

What scales to use to improvise over A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square?

To improvise over A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square in B, recommended scales are: B bebop, B bebop major.

Who composed A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square?

A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square was composed by Manning Sherwin in null. It is a widely performed Jazz standard at jam sessions and concerts worldwide.

A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square in Si

Manning Sherwin()balladSlowly

BPM: 120

Chord Diagrams — A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square in Si (Guitar)

Chord Voicings Closest Voicing

Fa♯7/aes

Sol♯m7/bes

La♯7/c

Do - La♯ - Re - Fa - Sol♯

Solm7

Fa♯dim7

A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square 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 G# (descending minor third), G# to D# (descending perfect fourth), D# to B (descending major third), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to D# (descending half step), D# to E (ascending half step), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to F# (descending perfect fourth), F# to E (descending whole step), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to C# (ascending major third), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to D# (descending minor third), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to G# (descending perfect fourth), G# to G# (ascending unison), G# to B (ascending minor third), B to D# (ascending major third), D# to C (descending minor third), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to A# (ascending unison), A# to G (descending minor third), G to F# (descending half step). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. 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.

ballad2/2 · 56 bars · Form: AABBA

Chords: SiMaj7, Sol♯m7, Re♯m7, Si7, Mi, Re♯7, Mim6, Si, Fa♯7, Mim7, La7, Do♯m7, Fa♯7/aes, Re♯m7♭5, Sol♯7, Do♯m7♭5, Sol♯m, Sol♯m7/bes, Si6, Re♯, Dom7, Fam7, La♯7, La♯7/c, Solm7, Fa♯dim7.

Scales for Improvisation Si bebop, Si bebop major.