Standards · 1936
I Can't Get Started chords & key
“I Can't Get Started” is a jazz standard by Vernon Duke from 1936. Most bands play it in C major, ballad; the tune runs 32 bars in AABA form. Harmonically it contains 5 major ii–V–I cadences, uses 19 different chords and moves between the key centres C major and D major. In this atlas it appears on 24 album tracks and in 1 transcribed solo.
Chord changes
Showing in: Concert (C) — C major
Changes as commonly played (concert pitch). Your band's version may differ.
Harmonic analysis
Most used chords
- G7×10
- Dm7×9
- Am7×8
- Cmaj7×6
- D7×5
- A7×5
Key centres reached by ii–V
C major and D major
Characteristics
- AABA song form
History
"I Can't Get Started", also known as "I Can't Get Started with You" or "I Can't Get Started (With You)", is a popular song. With music by Vernon Duke and lyrics by Ira Gershwin, it was introduced in 1936 in the revue Ziegfeld Follies of 1936, where it was performed by Bob Hope and Eve Arden. Ira Gershwin later explained that Duke's melody had come first: "Vernon played me this tune and told me it had a lyric called 'Face the Music with Me'; that nothing had happened to that version; that the tune was free and I could write it up if I liked it. I liked it and wrote it up." Hal Kemp and his Orchestra recorded it and it had a bit of popularity, rising briefly to 14th place on the recording charts. Bunny Berigan's 1937 version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
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Recorded on these albums
Transcribed solos on I Can't Get Started
| Joe Lovano C-melody saxophone | 107 BPM |
Historic 78 rpm recordings
- "I CAN'T GET STARTED." Alan Nash and His Orchestra · Johnny Bamford · Neville Maddison ·… archive.org ↗
- I Can't Get Started Teddy Wilson Sextet · Teddy Wilson · Ben Webster · Al Casey · Buck… · 1945 archive.org ↗
- I Can't Get Started Teddy Wilson Sextet · Teddy Wilson · Ben Webster · Al Casey · Buck… · 1945 archive.org ↗
- I Can't Get Started Maurice Rocco and his Rockin' Rhythm · Gerswhin · Duke · 1946 archive.org ↗
- I Can't Get Started Lennie Tristano Trio · Lennie Tristano · Billy Bauer · Clyde… · 1946 archive.org ↗
- I CAN'T GET STARTED LENNIE TRISTANO TRIO · Lennie Tristano · Billy Bauer · Clyde… · 1946 archive.org ↗
- I CAN'T GET STARTED TEDDY WILSON SEXTET · T. Wilson · B. Webster · Al Casey · B. Clayton… · 1947 archive.org ↗
- I CAN'T GET STARTED TEDDY WILSON'S SEXTET · Gershwin & Duke · 1948 archive.org ↗
Standards with similar changes
Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.
| Title | Key |
|---|---|
| Eternal Triangle 24% | B♭ major |
| Tippin' 23% | B♭ major |
| Put On A Happy Face 22% | E♭ major |
| Among My Souvenirs 21% | E♭ major |
| For Sentimental Reasons 21% | F major |
| Ain't Misbehavin' 20% | C major |
Frequently asked questions
What key is I Can't Get Started in?
I Can't Get Started is usually played in C major. For B♭ instruments that is D major, for E♭ instruments A major.
Who wrote I Can't Get Started?
I Can't Get Started was written by Vernon Duke (1936).
What is the form of I Can't Get Started?
I Can't Get Started has 4 sections (AABA) with 32 bars in total.
How fast is I Can't Get Started played?
The usual groove is Ballad. Transcribed solos in our data were played at 107 BPM.
What are the chord changes to I Can't Get Started?
The opening bars are Cmaj7 Am7 | Dm7 G7 | Bm7 E7 Bbm7 Eb7 | Am7 D7 Abm7 Db7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.