Standards

I May Be Wrong chords & key

Key: E♭ major
Form: AABC
Bars: 32
Groove: Medium swing
Time signature: 4/4

“I May Be Wrong” is a jazz standard by Henry Sullivan. Most bands play it in E♭ major, medium swing; the tune runs 32 bars in AABC form. Harmonically it contains 7 major ii–V–I cadences and 2 minor ii–V–i, uses 14 different chords and moves between the key centres E♭ major, A♭ major, F minor and G minor. In this atlas it appears on 24 album tracks.

Chord changes

to key

Showing in: Concert (C) — E♭ major

E♭^maj7

B♭^m7E♭⁷

A♭^maj7

D♭⁷

E♭^maj7C^m7

F⁷

F^m7B♭⁷

E♭⁶B♭⁷

E♭⁶C⁷

F^m7B♭⁷

G^m7C⁷

F^m7B♭⁷

A^m7♭5D^7♭9

G^m7

C⁷

C^m7F⁷

F^m7B♭⁷

E♭^maj7

B♭^m7E♭⁷

A♭^maj7

D♭⁷

E♭^maj7C^m7

F⁷

F^m7B♭⁷

E♭⁶B♭⁷

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

Harmonic analysis

7Major ii–V–I

2Minor ii–V–i

16ii–V moves

1Tritone substitutions

0Dominant chains

14Different chords

Most used chords

B♭⁷×8
E♭^maj7×6
F^m7×6
C^m7×4
F⁷×4
B♭^m7×3

Key centres reached by ii–V

E♭ major, A♭ major, F minor and G minor

Recorded on these albums

1951	Piano Solos Erroll Garner
1951	Music Minus One, Vol. 2: A Rhythm Background Record for Any Musician or Vocalist Don Abney, Jimmy Raney & Oscar Pettiford
1956	Jazz at the Blackhawk Dave Brubeck Quartet Featuring Paul Desmond
1956	Songs by Frankie Laine Frankie Laine
1956	I Play Trombone Frank Rosolino · “I May Be Wrong (But I Think You’re Wonderful)”
1958	Saturday Night With Mr. C. Perry Como
1961	The Happy "Bird" Charlie Parker
1967	Turquoise Erroll Garner
1968	The Board of Directors The Mills Brothers, Count Basie · “I May Be Wrong but I Think You're Wonderful”
1971	Volcanic Action of My Soul Ray Charles · “I May Be Wrong (but I Think You’re Wonderful)”
1982	Jam With Peanuts Peanuts Hucko
1983	Speak Love Ella Fitzgerald / Joe Pass · “I May Be Wrong (but I Think You’re Wonderful)”
1985	Phantasies Jaki Byard and The Apollo Stompers · “I May Be Wrong (But I Think You're Wonderful)”
1987	Fine and Mellow Etta Jones · “I May Be Wrong (but I Think You’re Wonderful)”
1988	Jimmy Witherspoon & Panama Francis' Savoy Sultans Jimmy Witherspoon & Panama Francis Savoy Sultans · “I May Be Wrong (Boogie Woogie)”
1992	Jam Session in Swingville Coleman Hawkins and Pee Wee Russell
1993	Gerry Mulligan Quartet & Chubby Jackson Big Band Gerry Mulligan & Chet Baker
1995	Gerry Mulligan Quartet featuring Chet Baker Gerry Mulligan Quartet featuring Chet Baker
1999	Ole Buttermilk Sky Hoagy Carmichael · “I May Be Wrong (But I Think You’re Wonderful)”
1999	The Transcription Performances 1947 Claude Thornhill
2002	Complete Jazz at Storyville Paul Desmond
2002	The Definitive Black & Blue Sessions Jimmy Witherspoon & Panama Francis’ Savoy Sultans
2004	Quiet Riot Buddy Rich
2004	Westwood Walk Gerry Mulligan

Historic 78 rpm recordings

I MAY BE WRONG PETE BROWN'S ALL STAR QUINTET · KENNETH KERSEY · Pete Brown · Joe… · 1944 archive.org ↗
I MAY BE WRONG PETE BROWN'S ALL STAR QUINTET · KENNETH KERSEY · Pete Brown · Joe… · 1944 archive.org ↗
I MAY BE WRONG CHUBBY JACKSON & His Orch. · HOWARD McGHEE · AL PORCINO · DON… · 1950 archive.org ↗

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

Title	Composer	Key	Form	Groove
Tadd's Delight 42%	Tadd Dameron	A♭ major	ABAC · 32	Medium-up swing
The Joker 41%	Lee Morgan	E♭ major	AABA · 32	Medium swing
Sometimes I'm Happy 41%	Vincent Youmans	F major	ABAB · 32	Medium swing
The Masquerade Is Over 37%	Allie Wrubel	E♭ major	AAB · 44	Ballad
Dancing On The Ceiling 35%	Richard Rodgers	F major	AABA · 32	Ballad
Just You, Just Me 34%	Jesse Greer	C major	AABA · 32	Medium swing
On The Sunny Side Of The Street 34%	Jimmy McHugh	C major	AABA · 32	Medium swing
You Are Too Beautiful 34%	Richard Rodgers	C major	AABA · 32	Ballad

Frequently asked questions

What key is I May Be Wrong in?

I May Be Wrong is usually played in E♭ major. For B♭ instruments that is F major, for E♭ instruments C major.

Who wrote I May Be Wrong?

I May Be Wrong was written by Henry Sullivan.

What is the form of I May Be Wrong?

I May Be Wrong has 4 sections (AABC) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is I May Be Wrong played?

The usual groove is Medium swing.

What are the chord changes to I May Be Wrong?

The opening bars are Ebmaj7 | Bbm7 Eb7 | Abmaj7 | Db7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.