Standards

Dancing In The Dark chords & key

Key: C major
Form: AB
Bars: 32
Groove: Medium swing
Time signature: 4/4

“Dancing In The Dark” is a jazz standard by Arthur Schwartz. Most bands play it in C major, medium swing; the tune runs 32 bars in AB form. Harmonically it contains no major ii–V–I cadences and 4 minor ii–V–i, uses 14 different chords and moves between the key centres C minor and D minor. In this atlas it appears on 24 album tracks and in 2 transcribed solos.

Chord changes

to key

Showing in: Concert (C) — C major

C^maj7

C^dim7

D^m7

D^m7♭5

G^7♭9

C^maj7

C^m7

E^m7♭5

A^7♭9

D^m7♭5

D^m7♭5A♭⁹

G^7♭9

C^maj7

C^dim7

D^m7

D^m7♭5

D^m7♭5G^7♭9

C^maj7

C^m7

E♭⁷

D♭⁷

C⁶

D^m7♭5G^7sus

C⁶

D^m7G⁷

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

Harmonic analysis

0Major ii–V–I

4Minor ii–V–i

5ii–V moves

1Tritone substitutions

0Dominant chains

14Different chords

Most used chords

D^m7♭5×7
C^maj7×6
D^m7×5
C^dim7×4
G^7♭9×3
C^m7×2

Key centres reached by ii–V

C minor and D minor

Recorded on these albums

1950	Art Tatum Art Tatum · “Dancing in the dark”
1950	Art Tatum Art Tatum
1952	Solo Flight Erroll Garner · “Dancing in the Dark”
1953	The Astaire Story Fred Astaire · “Dancing in the Dark”
1956	Byrd Jazz Donald Byrd · “Dancing in the Dark”
1956	Ruby Braff Featuring Dave McKenna Ruby Braff Featuring Dave McKenna · “Dancing in the Dark”
1957	Sings Broadway: Great Songs from Hit Shows Sarah Vaughan · “Dancing in the Dark”
1957	Kenton With Voices Stan Kenton Introducing The Modern Men And Featuring Ann Richards
1958	Somethin’ Else Cannonball Adderley · “Dancing in the Dark”
1958	Hip Harp Dorothy Ashby · “Dancing in the Dark”
1959	Come Dance With Me! Frank Sinatra with Billy May and His Orchestra · “Dancing in the Dark”
1959	Lawrence Welk Presents Pete Fountain Pete Fountain · “Dancing in the Dark”
1961	My Heart Sings Tony Bennett · “Dancing in the Dark”
1961	Listen to Barry Harris... Solo Piano Barry Harris · “Dancing in the Dark”
1962	My Kind of Music Mel Tormé · “Dancing in the Dark”
1964	Trio 64 Bill Evans · “Dancing in the Dark”
1965	Yusef Yusef Lateef With Donald Byrd · “Dancing in the Dark”
1965	Love Is Everything Johnny Mathis · “Dancing in the Dark”
1967	Structurally Sound Booker Ervin · “Dancing in the Dark”
1968	Bobby, Billy, Brasil Bobby Hackett, Billy Butterfield · “Dancing in the Dark”
1974	Play It Again, Erroll! Erroll Garner · “Dancing in the Dark”
1976	The Influence Jimmy Raney · “Dancing in the Dark”
1977	The Best of Acker Bilk, Volume 2 Acker Bilk · “Dancing in the Dark”
1979	Blues in the Night Sonny Clark · “Dancing in the Dark”

Transcribed solos on Dancing In The Dark

Zoot Sims tenor saxophone	125 BPM	Ab-maj	1950-09-16
Zoot Sims tenor saxophone	122 BPM	Ab-maj	1950-09-16

Frequently asked questions

What key is Dancing In The Dark in?

Dancing In The Dark is usually played in C major. For B♭ instruments that is D major, for E♭ instruments A major.

Who wrote Dancing In The Dark?

Dancing In The Dark was written by Arthur Schwartz.

What is the form of Dancing In The Dark?

Dancing In The Dark has 2 sections (AB) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is Dancing In The Dark played?

The usual groove is Medium swing. Transcribed solos in our data were played at 125 BPM and 122 BPM.

What are the chord changes to Dancing In The Dark?

The opening bars are Cmaj7 | Cmaj7 | Cdim7 | Cdim7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.