Jazz lead sheet · Beginner
When the Saints Go Marching In
A public-domain classic with I, IV and V7: a friendly first tune for guide tones.
- Composer
- Traditional
- Form
- 16 bars
- Key
- F major
- Style
- Dixieland
- Length
- 16 bars
AF major
IF Ionian
IF Ionian
IF Ionian
IF Ionian
IF Ionian
IF Ionian
V7C Mixolydian
V7C Mixolydian
A′
IF Ionian
I7F Mixolydian
IVB♭ Lydian
ivB♭ Dorian
IF Ionian
V7C Mixolydian
IF Ionian
IF Ionian
For students
What to notice
- Most of the tune sits on F, the I chord. Notice how long the harmony waits before moving to C7, the V7.
- F7 in bar 10 adds E♭ to the home chord. That ♭7 makes F lean toward B♭, the IV chord, which arrives in the next bar.
- B♭m (iv) is borrowed from F minor. Its D♭ slides down to C, a classic bittersweet move.
Practice plan
Three steps to improvising
- Sing or play the roots with the backing track first.
- Play the guide-tone view: just two notes per chord, moving as little as possible.
- Improvise using only F major pentatonic (F G A C D), then add B♭ and E♭ in bars 10–12.
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.