Standards · 1939

If I Didn't Care chords & key

Jack Lawrence · Lyrics: Jack Lawrence

Key: B♭ major
Form: ABAB
Bars: 32
Groove: Medium swing
Time signature: 4/4
Year: 1939

“If I Didn't Care” is a jazz standard by Jack Lawrence from 1939. Most bands play it in B♭ major, medium swing; the tune runs 32 bars in ABAB form. Harmonically it contains 1 major ii–V–I cadence, uses 13 different chords.

Chord changes

to key

Showing in: Concert (C) — B♭ major

B♭⁶F^7♯5

B♭⁶

B♭⁶F^7♯5

B♭⁶

C⁷C^7♯5

C⁷

C⁷C^7♯5

C⁷

D⁷

G^m7

C⁷

C^m7E♭^m6

F⁷

B♭⁶F^7♯5

B♭⁶

B♭⁶F^7♯5

B♭⁶

C⁷G^m7

C⁷

A^m7♭5

D^7♭13

G⁷

C⁷

C^m7F^7♭9

B♭⁶

C^m7F⁷

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

Harmonic analysis

1Major ii–V–I

0Minor ii–V–i

6ii–V moves

0Tritone substitutions

2Dominant chains

13Different chords

Most used chords

C⁷×11
B♭⁶×9
F^7♯5×4
G^m7×4
C^m7×3
C^7♯5×2

Characteristics

ABAB form

History

"If I Didn't Care" is a song written by Jack Lawrence that was sung and recorded by the Ink Spots featuring Bill Kenny in 1939.

Read the full article on Wikipedia ↗ · From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

Title	Composer	Key	Form	Groove
I'll Be Seeing You 26%	Sammy Fain	E♭ major	AB · 32	Medium swing
Dinah 24%	Harry Akst	G major	BBA · 24	Medium-up swing
Falling In Love Again 22%	Frederick Hollander	C major	AABA · 32	Jazz waltz
I Left My Heart In San Francisco 22%	George Cory	C major	ABA · 32	Ballad
I'm Confessin' (That I Love You) 22%	Daugherty-Neiberg-Reynolds	G major	AABA · 32	Medium swing
The Odd Couple 22%	Neal Hefti	F major	AA · 32	Medium swing
I Cried For You 21%	Freed-Arnheim-Lyman	F major	ABA · 40	Ballad
I've Heard That Song Before 21%	Jule Styne	C major	ABAC · 32	Medium swing

Frequently asked questions

What key is If I Didn't Care in?

If I Didn't Care is usually played in B♭ major. For B♭ instruments that is C major, for E♭ instruments G major.

Who wrote If I Didn't Care?

If I Didn't Care was written by Jack Lawrence (1939).

What is the form of If I Didn't Care?

If I Didn't Care has 4 sections (ABAB) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is If I Didn't Care played?

The usual groove is Medium swing.

What are the chord changes to If I Didn't Care?

The opening bars are Bb6 F7#5 | Bb6 | Bb6 F7#5 | Bb6. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.