Form AABA
Bars 34
Time signature 4/4
“I Loves You Porgy” is a jazz standard by George Gershwin. Most bands play it in F major, ballad; the tune runs 34 bars in AABA form. Harmonically it contains 9 major ii–V–I cadences and 3 minor ii–V–i, uses 24 different chords and moves between the key centres F major, B♭ major, A minor and C minor. In this atlas it appears on 24 album tracks.
Showing in: Concert (C) — F major
A
F maj7 C m7 F 7
B♭ maj7 D m7 /A
G m7 C 7sus
F maj7 A 7♭13
D m7
G 7
G m7 C 7sus
B
A m6 G♭ m7♭5
B m7♭5 E 7♭13
A m6 G♭ m7♭5
A♭ 7♯5 G 7
C m6 A m7♭5
D m7♭5 G 7♭13
C m6 A♭ 7
G 7♯5 C 7♯9
G 7♯5 C 7♯9
G 7♯5 C 7sus
A
F maj7 C m7 F 7
B♭ maj7 D m7 /A
G m7 C 7sus
F maj7 A 7♭13
D m7
G 7
G m7 C 7sus
F 6 C 7sus
Changes as commonly played (concert pitch). Your band's version may differ.
Harmonic analysis
9 Major ii–V–I
3 Minor ii–V–i
15 ii–V moves
0 Tritone substitutions
3 Dominant chains
24 Different chords
Most used chords
C 7sus ×9 F maj7 ×6 G m7 ×6 G 7 ×4 C m7 ×3 F 7 ×3 Key centres reached by ii–V F major, B♭ major, A minor and C minor
Characteristics
Recorded on these albums
1951
Lover Man Billie Holiday · “Porgy”
1956
George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess George Gershwin; Mel Tormé, Frances Faye, The Bethlehem Orchestra, Russ Garcia, The Stan Levey Group, The Australian Jazz Quartet, Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra · “I Loves You, Porgy”
1957
That’s Him! Abbey Lincoln with The Riverside Jazz Stars · “Porgy”
1958
Porgy and Bess Miles Davis · “I Loves You, Porgy”
1958
Little Girl Blue Nina Simone · “Porgy”
1959
Porgy and Bess Sammy Davis Jr. / Carmen McRae
1961
The Magnificent Trombone of Curtis Fuller Curtis Fuller
1962
Porgy And Bess George Gershwin · “I Loves You, Porgy”
1962
Love Letters Julie London · “I Love You Porgy”
1965
The Modern Jazz Quartet Plays George Gershwin's 'Porgy and Bess' The Modern Jazz Quartet · “I Loves You, Porgy”
1966
Nina Simone With Strings Nina Simone · “I Love You Porgy”
1968
At the Montreux Jazz Festival Bill Evans
1970
Gifted & Black Nina Simone · “Porgy”
1971
Inner City Blues Grover Washington, Jr.
1975
Rita Reys Sings the George Gershwin Songbook Rita Reys
1976
Porgy & Bess George Mraz in Duet With Roland Hanna · “I Love You Porgy”
1978
Porgy and Bess George Gershwin; Clamma Dale, Donnie Ray Albert, Houston Grand Opera Orchestra, John DeMain · “"I loves you Porgy"”
1978
Boogie-Woogie String Along for Real Rahsaan Roland Kirk · “I Loves You, Porgy”
1980
Collage Rita Reys · “Loves Your Porgy”
1981
Barbara Hendricks Sings Gershwin Gershwin; Barbara Hendricks, Katia & Marielle Labèque · “I Loves You, Porgy”
1981
Porgy and Bess in Concert / Girl Crazy Overture George Gershwin; Claudia Lindsey, Benjamin Matthews, Slovak Philharmonic, Ettore Stratta · “I Loves You, Porgy”
1982
The Paris Concert, Edition One Bill Evans
1983
Gershwin Live! Sarah Vaughan · “Overture: Porgy and Bess. Medley: Summertime / It Ain’t Necessarily So / I Love You, Porgy”
1985
Nina’s Back Nina Simone · “Porgy”
Historic 78 rpm recordings
I LOVES YOU, PORGY
Phil Moore Four · Ira Gershwin · George Gershwin · 1946
archive.org ↗
Standards with similar changes Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.
Frequently asked questions
What key is I Loves You Porgy in? I Loves You Porgy is usually played in F major. For B♭ instruments that is G major, for E♭ instruments D major.
Who wrote I Loves You Porgy? I Loves You Porgy was written by George Gershwin.
What is the form of I Loves You Porgy? I Loves You Porgy has 4 sections (AABA) with 34 bars in total.
How fast is I Loves You Porgy played? The usual groove is Ballad.
What are the chord changes to I Loves You Porgy? The opening bars are Fmaj7 Cm7 F7 | Bbmaj7 Dm7/A | Gm7 C7sus | Fmaj7 A7b13. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.