Standards
Don't Misunderstand chords & key
- Key
- F major
- Form
- AABA
- Bars
- 32
- Groove
- Medium swing
- Time signature
- 4/4
“Don't Misunderstand” is a jazz standard by Gordon Parks. Most bands play it in F major, medium swing; the tune runs 32 bars in AABA form. Harmonically it contains 1 major ii–V–I cadence and 2 minor ii–V–i, uses 21 different chords and moves between the key centres G minor, D minor and F major. In this atlas it appears on 17 album tracks.
Chord changes
Showing in: Concert (C) — F major
Changes as commonly played (concert pitch). Your band's version may differ.
Harmonic analysis
Most used chords
- C7×5
- G7×4
- Fmaj7×3
- E7sus×3
- E7alt×3
- E♭maj7×3
Key centres reached by ii–V
G minor, D minor and F major
Characteristics
- AABA song form
Recorded on these albums
| 1973 | I Know I Love Him Nancy Wilson |
| 1974 | Jamalca Ahmad Jamal |
| 1980 | Inflation Stanley Turrentine |
| 1981 | Super Strings Ron Carter |
| 1991 | TNT Grady Tate |
| 1991 | Great Scott! Shirley Scott |
| 1997 | My Mother’s Eyes Etta Jones · “Don’t Misunderstand” |
| 2001 | Upside Down: Live at the Montreux Jazz Festival Carmen McRae · “Don’t Misunderstand” |
| 2002 | No More Blues Carmen McRae |
| 2002 | All Love Grady Tate |
| 2013 | Kaleidoscope / I Know I Love Him Nancy Wilson · “Don’t Misunderstand” |
| 2013 | At the Great American Music Hall, Vol. 2 Carmen McRae |
| 2015 | Currency of Man Melody Gardot · “Don’t Misunderstand” |
| 2015 | Live At the Olympia Paris Melody Gardot |
| 2020 | Love Letter Jimmy Heath |
| 2025 | Sings Love Songs Carmen McRae · “Don’t Misunderstand (live)” |
| — | Carmen McRae at Ratso's, Volume 3 Carmen McRae |
Standards with similar changes
Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.
| Title | Key |
|---|---|
| Indian Summer 21% | G major |
| Let There Be Love 21% | E♭ major |
| So Nice (Summer Samba) 21% | F major |
| Try A Little Tenderness 21% | E♭ major |
| When You Wish Upon A Star 20% | C major |
Frequently asked questions
What key is Don't Misunderstand in?
Don't Misunderstand is usually played in F major. For B♭ instruments that is G major, for E♭ instruments D major.
Who wrote Don't Misunderstand?
Don't Misunderstand was written by Gordon Parks.
What is the form of Don't Misunderstand?
Don't Misunderstand has 4 sections (AABA) with 32 bars in total.
How fast is Don't Misunderstand played?
The usual groove is Medium swing.
What are the chord changes to Don't Misunderstand?
The opening bars are Fmaj7 | E7sus E7alt | Ebmaj7 | D7sus D7b9. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.