Standards

I'm A Fool To Want You chords & key

Key: E minor
Form: AABA
Bars: 40
Groove: Ballad
Time signature: 4/4

“I'm A Fool To Want You” is a jazz standard by Herron-Sinatra-Wolf. It is usually played in E minor as a ballad, and the 40-bar AABA form has 4 sections. Harmonically it contains 2 major ii–V–I cadences and 11 minor ii–V–i, uses 18 different chords and moves between the key centres E minor, A minor and G major. In this atlas it appears on 5 album tracks.

Chord changes

to key

Showing in: Concert (C) — E minor

E^m6

B^m7♭5E^7♭9

A^m6

F♯^m7♭5B^7♭9

E^m7

A^m7

C^7♯11

B⁹B^7♭13

F♯^m7♭5B^7♭9

E^m6

A^mA^mmaj7

A^m7D⁷

G^maj7

B^m7E^7♭9

A^mA^mmaj7

A^m7D⁷

G^maj7

F♯^m7♭5

B^7♭9

E^m7

G^m7

C⁷

F♯^m7♭5

B^7♭13

E^m6

B^m7♭5E^7♭9

A^m6

F♯^m7♭5B^7♭9

E^m7

A^m7

F♯^m7♭5B^7♭9

E^m6

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

Harmonic analysis

2Major ii–V–I

11Minor ii–V–i

14ii–V moves

0Tritone substitutions

0Dominant chains

18Different chords

Most used chords

F♯^m7♭5×7
B^7♭9×6
E^m6×5
E^m7×5
A^m7×5
E^7♭9×4

Key centres reached by ii–V

E minor, A minor and G major

Characteristics

AABA song form

Recorded on these albums

1957	Where Are You? Frank Sinatra with Gordon Jenkins and His Orchestra · “I’m a Fool to Want You”
1958	Lady in Satin Billie Holiday · “I´m a Fool to Want You”
1960	To My Wonderful One Tony Bennett · “I’m a Fool to Want You”
2003	Les Plus Beaux Moments Jazz Billie Holiday · “I'm a fool to want you”
2015	The Complete Hits 1943-62 Frank Sinatra · “I'm a Fool to Want You”

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

Title	Composer	Key	Form	Groove
Catch Me 32%	Joe Pass	D minor	AABA · 32	Up-tempo swing
Beautiful Love 29%	Victor Young	D minor	AA · 32	Medium swing
Manha De Carnaval (Black Orpheus) 28%	Luiz Bonfa	A minor	AB · 37	Bossa nova
Birk's Works 27%	Dizzy Gillespie	F minor	A · 12	Up-tempo swing
Cheese Cake 23%	Dexter Gordon	C minor	AAB · 40	Medium-up swing
Decision 22%	Sonny Rollins	F minor	A · 13	Medium swing
Diverse 21%	Charlie Parker	B♭ minor	ABA · 26	Up-tempo swing
Don't Explain 21%	Billie Holiday	D minor	AABA · 32	Ballad

Frequently asked questions

What key is I'm A Fool To Want You in?

I'm A Fool To Want You is usually played in E minor. For B♭ instruments that is F♯ minor, for E♭ instruments C♯ minor.

Who wrote I'm A Fool To Want You?

I'm A Fool To Want You was written by Herron-Sinatra-Wolf.

What is the form of I'm A Fool To Want You?

I'm A Fool To Want You has 4 sections (AABA) with 40 bars in total.

How fast is I'm A Fool To Want You played?

The usual groove is Ballad.

What are the chord changes to I'm A Fool To Want You?

The opening bars are Em6 | Bm7b5 E7b9 | Am6 | F#m7b5 B7b9. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.