Jazz lead sheet · Advanced
Oleo
Sonny Rollins wrote Oleo over rhythm changes, the most common 32-bar form after the blues.
- Composer
- Sonny Rollins
- Form
- AABA, 32 bars
- Key
- B♭ major
- Style
- Swing
- Length
- 32 bars
A1B♭ major
I6B♭ Ionian
V7/iiG Phryg. dom.
ii7C Dorian
V7F Mixolydian
D Dorian
V7/iiG Phryg. dom.
ii7C Dorian
V7F Mixolydian
F Dorian
V7/IVB♭ Mixolydian
IVmaj7E♭ Lydian
♯iv°7E W–H dim.
D Dorian
V7/iiG Phryg. dom.
ii7C Dorian
V7F Mixolydian
A2
I6B♭ Ionian
V7/iiG Phryg. dom.
ii7C Dorian
V7F Mixolydian
D Dorian
V7/iiG Phryg. dom.
ii7C Dorian
V7F Mixolydian
F Dorian
V7/IVB♭ Mixolydian
IVmaj7E♭ Lydian
♯iv°7E W–H dim.
ii7C Dorian
V7F Mixolydian
I6B♭ Ionian
B
V7/viD Mixolydian
V7/viD Mixolydian
V7/iiG Mixolydian
V7/iiG Mixolydian
V7/VC Mixolydian
V7/VC Mixolydian
V7F Mixolydian
V7F Mixolydian
A3
I6B♭ Ionian
V7/iiG Phryg. dom.
ii7C Dorian
V7F Mixolydian
D Dorian
V7/iiG Phryg. dom.
ii7C Dorian
V7F Mixolydian
F Dorian
V7/IVB♭ Mixolydian
IVmaj7E♭ Lydian
♯iv°7E W–H dim.
ii7C Dorian
V7F Mixolydian
I6B♭ Ionian
For students
What to notice
- The A sections are I–VI–ii–V turnarounds: B♭6–G7–Cm7–F7.
- Bar 5 borrows F7 (V7/IV) and E♭7, with E°7 rising chromatically back.
- The bridge is a chain of dominants falling in 5ths: D7, G7, C7, F7.
Practice plan
Three steps to improvising
- Play the guide tones through the bridge and hear each 5th.
- Learn one I–VI–ii–V lick and play it in every A section.
- At a fast tempo, simplify: B♭ major pentatonic in the A sections, arpeggios in the bridge.
For teachers
Using this chart in class
- Project the chart with Play along running and loop one section while students find the guide tones.
- Choose Practice → Name the numerals for a whole-class quiz: students vote, then reveal the explanation.
- Mixed ensemble? Print the worksheet once per transposition: B♭, E♭, F and bass clef parts all line up bar for bar.
- Share a link: the key, instrument and view you choose are saved in the address bar.
Chord changes are common performance versions written out by Music Theory Lessons. No melodies or lyrics are reproduced. Names of songs and composers are used only to identify each tune.