Standards

Cry Me A River chords & key

Key: E♭ major
Form: AABA
Bars: 32
Groove: Ballad
Time signature: 4/4

“Cry Me A River” is a jazz standard by Arthur Hamilton. It is usually played in E♭ major as a ballad, and the 32-bar AABA form has 4 sections. Harmonically it contains 6 major ii–V–I cadences and 3 minor ii–V–i, uses 23 different chords and moves between the key centres E♭ major, G minor and C minor. In this atlas it appears on 24 album tracks.

Chord changes

to key

Showing in: Concert (C) — E♭ major

C^mC^m♭6

C^m6C^m7

F^m7B♭⁷

E♭^maj7G^7♭9

G^m7♭5C^7♭9

F⁹

F^m7B♭^7sus

E♭⁶G^7♭13

E♭⁶A^m7♭5D⁷

G^m

C^m6D^7♭9

G^mE^m7♭5

E♭^7♯11D^7♭9

G^mE^m7♭5

A^m7♭5D^7♭9

G^maj7

D^m7G⁷

C^mC^m♭6

C^m6C^m7

F^m7B♭⁷

E♭^maj7G^7♭9

G^m7♭5C^7♭9

F⁹

F^m7B♭^7sus

E♭⁶G^7♭13

Changes as commonly played (concert pitch). Your band's version may differ.

Harmonic analysis

6Major ii–V–I

3Minor ii–V–i

12ii–V moves

0Tritone substitutions

3Dominant chains

23Different chords

Most used chords

F^m7×6
C^m6×4
C^m×3
C^m♭6×3
C^m7×3
B♭⁷×3

Key centres reached by ii–V

E♭ major, G minor and C minor

Characteristics

AABA song form

Recorded on these albums

1955	Julie Is Her Name Julie London · “Cry Me a River”
1956	A Musical Offering by Don Elliott Don Elliott · “Cry Me a River”
1957	First Place J.J. Johnson · “Cry Me a River”
1959	What a Diff'rence a Day Makes! Dinah Washington · “Cry Me a River”
1960	On the Swingin' Side Vic Damone · “Cry Me a River”
1960	Please Mr. Organ Player Milt Buckner · “Cry Me”
1961	Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie! Ella Fitzgerald · “Cry Me a River”
1962	Blues Make Me Happy Cab Calloway · “Cry Me a River”
1963	The Barbra Streisand Album Barbra Streisand · “Cry Me a River”
1964	Sweet & Sour Tears Ray Charles · “Cry Me a River”
1964	A Weekend in Paris Chris Connor · “Cry Me a River”
1965	When the Feeling Hits You! Sammy Davis Jr. meets Sam Butera & the Witnesses · “Cry Me a River”
1966	Hot Barbeque “Brother” Jack McDuff · “Cry Me a River”
1968	A Happening in Central Park Barbra Streisand · “Cry Me a River”
1968	Warm, Wild & Wonderful Tony Mottola · “Cry Me a River”
1969	I'll Catch the Sun Sonny Criss · “Cry Me a River”
1972	Green Guitar Blues Bucky Pizzarelli · “Medley: Cry Me A River, Girl Talk”
1973	I Want a Country Man Dakota Staton · “Cry Me a River”
1981	Taurus Tania Maria · “Cry Me a River”
1982	The Ballad Artistry Of Buddy Tate Buddy Tate
1988	The Real Me Patti Austin · “Cry Me a River”
1988	Talkin’ ’Bout You Diane Schuur · “Cry Me a River”
1990	Hot and Cool Dexter Gordon · “Cry Me a River”
1990	Nightingale George Adams · “Cry Me a River”

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

Title	Composer	Key	Form	Groove
I Loves You Porgy 23%	George Gershwin	F major	AABA · 34	Ballad
My One And Only Love 21%	Wood-Mellin	C major	AABA · 32	Ballad
These Foolish Things 21%	Strachey-Link	E♭ major	AABA · 32	Ballad
More Than You Know 20%	Vincent Youmans	C major	AABA · 32	Ballad

Frequently asked questions

What key is Cry Me A River in?

Cry Me A River is usually played in E♭ major. For B♭ instruments that is F major, for E♭ instruments C major.

Who wrote Cry Me A River?

Cry Me A River was written by Arthur Hamilton.

What is the form of Cry Me A River?

Cry Me A River has 4 sections (AABA) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is Cry Me A River played?

The usual groove is Ballad.

What are the chord changes to Cry Me A River?

The opening bars are Cm Cmb6 | Cm6 Cm7 | Fm7 Bb7 | Ebmaj7 G7b9. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.