ENDEIT

Standards

If I Knew Then (What I Know Now) chords & key

Jurgens-Howard

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

“If I Knew Then (What I Know Now)” is a jazz standard by Jurgens-Howard. Most bands play it in E♭ major, medium swing; the tune runs 32 bars in AB form. Harmonically it contains 6 major ii–V–I cadences, uses 10 different chords and moves between the key centres E♭ major and A♭ major.

Chord changes

Showing in: Concert (C) — E♭ major

A
Fm7
B♭7
Fm7
B♭7
E♭maj7
Fm7B♭7
E♭maj7
C7
Fm7
B♭7
Fm7
B♭7
E♭maj7
Fm7B♭7
E♭maj7
C7
B
Fm7
B♭7
Fm7
B♭7
B♭m7
E♭7
A♭maj7
A♭maj7
A♭maj7
D♭7♯11
E♭maj7
F7
Fm7
B♭7
E♭6
C7

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

Harmonic analysis

6Major ii–V–I
0Minor ii–V–i
10ii–V moves
0Tritone substitutions
0Dominant chains
10Different chords

Most used chords

  • Fm7×9
  • B♭7×9
  • E♭maj7×5
  • C7×3
  • A♭maj7×3
  • B♭m7×1

Key centres reached by ii–V

E♭ major and A♭ major

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

TitleComposerKeyFormGroove
Why Do I Love You? 43% Jerome Kern A♭ major AA · 32 Medium swing
I Can't Give You Anything But Love 42% Jimmy McHugh F major ABAC · 32 Medium swing
It's Only a Paper Moon 41% Harold Arlen G major AABA · 32 Medium swing
Sometimes I'm Happy 38% Vincent Youmans F major ABAB · 32 Medium swing
You Better Go Now 38% Reichner-Graham E♭ major ABC · 24 Medium swing
My Secret Love 35% Roger Vogel E♭ major AABC · 48 Medium swing
Three Little Words 35% Harry Ruby C major AABA · 32 Medium-up swing
For You, For Me, For Evermore 32% George Gershwin E♭ major AB · 32 Slow swing

Frequently asked questions

What key is If I Knew Then (What I Know Now) in?

If I Knew Then (What I Know Now) is usually played in E♭ major. For B♭ instruments that is F major, for E♭ instruments C major.

Who wrote If I Knew Then (What I Know Now)?

If I Knew Then (What I Know Now) was written by Jurgens-Howard.

What is the form of If I Knew Then (What I Know Now)?

If I Knew Then (What I Know Now) has 2 sections (AB) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is If I Knew Then (What I Know Now) played?

The usual groove is Medium swing.

What are the chord changes to If I Knew Then (What I Know Now)?

The opening bars are Fm7 | Bb7 | Fm7 | Bb7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.