Free Jazz Standard Sheet Music Downloads

"Things Ain't What They Used to Be" is a jazz blues classic composed by Mercer Ellington in 1941. Mercer, the son of Duke Ellington, wrote this piece for his father's orchestra during an ASCAP strike that prevented Duke from broadcasting his own compositions. The same circumstances produced Billy Strayhorn's "Take the 'A' Train," making this a remarkably fruitful period born out of restriction.

The tune is a 12-bar blues, most commonly played in the key of F with a shuffle-swing feel. The melody is rooted in the blues scale yet carries a bright, optimistic character. Lyrics by Ted Persons convey an upbeat message about things changing for the better. Its straightforward structure makes it an ideal vehicle for improvisation, and the tune has become a staple at jam sessions worldwide. The head's rhythmic phrasing invites a relaxed, swinging groove that rewards both laid-back and hard-driving approaches.

The earliest recording was made in 1942 by Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra, a small group drawn from Duke's band. Duke Ellington's own orchestra performed the tune countless times in concert, and it became a core part of the Ellington repertoire for decades.