Standards

I'm In The Mood For Love chords & key

Key: C major
Form: AABA
Bars: 32
Groove: Medium swing
Time signature: 4/4

“I'm In The Mood For Love” is a jazz standard by Jimmy McHugh. Most bands play it in C major, medium swing; the tune runs 32 bars in AABA form. Harmonically it contains 8 major ii–V–I cadences and 2 minor ii–V–i, uses 14 different chords and moves between the key centres C major, E minor and C minor. In this atlas it appears on 24 album tracks.

Chord changes

to key

Showing in: Concert (C) — C major

C^maj7A^m7

D^m7G⁷

C^maj7F⁷

E^m7E♭^dim7

D^m7

G⁷

C^maj7G⁷

C⁶

D^m7G⁷

C^maj7A⁷

D^m7G⁷

C^maj7

G♭^m7♭5B^7♭9

E^m7

A^m7♭5D⁷

D^m7♭5G⁷

C^maj7A^m7

D^m7G⁷

C^maj7F⁷

E^m7E♭^dim7

D^m7

G⁷

C⁶

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

Harmonic analysis

8Major ii–V–I

2Minor ii–V–i

14ii–V moves

3Tritone substitutions

0Dominant chains

14Different chords

Most used chords

G⁷×13
D^m7×11
C^maj7×9
E^m7×4
A^m7×3
F⁷×3

Key centres reached by ii–V

C major, E minor and C minor

Characteristics

AABA song form

Recorded on these albums

1949	Erroll Garner at the Piano Erroll Garner · “I'm in the Mood for Love”
1951	Favorites Volume One James Moody · “I'm in the Mood for Love”
1952	Passport to Fame: Erroll Garner’s First Recordings Erroll Garner · “I’m in the Mood for Love”
1953	Charlie Ventura Charlie Ventura
1954	On Savoy: Billy Eckstine Billy Eckstine · “I'm in the Mood for Love”
1955	Oscar Peterson Plays Jimmy McHugh Oscar Peterson · “I'm in the Mood for Love”
1955	Julie Is Her Name Julie London · “I'm in the Mood for Love”
1955	Serenade to Laura Erroll Garner · “I'm in the Mood for Love”
1955	The Love Songs Of Mr. “B” Billy Eckstine · “I’m in the Mood for Love”
1956	Bowin' Singin' Slam Slam Stewart · “I'm in the Mood for Love”
1957	Here Stands Fats Domino Fats Domino · “I’m in the Mood for Love”
1957	Rosemary Clooney and the HI-LOs & Hollywood's Best Rosemary Clooney · “I'm in the Mood for Love”
1957	Ring Around Rosie Rosemary Clooney and The Hi‐Lo’s · “I’m in the Mood for Love”
1957	Moody's Mood for Love James Moody · “I'm in the Mood for Love”
1959	Oscar Peterson Plays the Jimmy McHugh Song Book Oscar Peterson · “I’m in the Mood for Love”
1960	Johnny’s Mood Johnny Mathis · “I’m in the Mood for Love”
1960	Young At Heart Ray Conniff
1960	Graeme Bell at The Sylvania Graeme Bell · “I'm in the Mood for Love”
1961	At The D.J. Lounge Sonny Stitt
1963	Shirley Horn With Horns Shirley Horn · “I'm in the Mood for Love”
1964	Living A Lie Al Martino
1965	Fats Domino ’65 Fats Domino · “I’m in the Mood for Love”
1965	Fame at Last Georgie Fame · “I'm in the Mood for Love”
1967	Sing or Play the Music of Jimmy McHugh Mal Waldron Trio · “I'm in the Mood for Love”

Historic 78 rpm recordings

I'M IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE GLENN TOMLISON And His STRING ENSEMBLE · BOB MOSLEY · Jacquee Lynn ·… archive.org ↗
I'M IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE GLENN TOMLISON And His STRING ENSEMBLE · BOB MOSLEY · Jacquee Lynn ·… archive.org ↗
I'M IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE Bill COLEMAN · Herman Chition · Creamer · Layton archive.org ↗
I'm In The Mood For Love Coleman Hawkins and his Quintet · Teddy Wilson · Fields · McHugh ·… · 1944 archive.org ↗
I'M IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE COLEMAN HAWKINS and his QUINTET · TEDDY WILSON · Coleman Hawkins ·… · 1944 archive.org ↗
I'M IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE COLEMAN HAWKINS and his QUINTET · TEDDY WILSON · Coleman Hawkins ·… · 1944 archive.org ↗
I'M IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE THE LESTER YOUNG QUINTET · Lester Young · Jesse Drake · Gildo… · 1955 archive.org ↗

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

Title	Composer	Key	Form	Groove
When You Wish Upon A Star 37%	Leigh Harline	C major	AABA · 32	Ballad
This Is All I Ask 34%	Gordon Jenkins	F major	ABAC · 32	Ballad
Pretend 33%	Douglas-Parman-Lavere	C major	AABA · 32	Ballad
Over The Rainbow (Somewhere) 31%	Harold Arlen	E♭ major	AABA · 32	Ballad
You Made Me Love You 31%	James Monaco	C major	AB · 32	Medium swing
Among My Souvenirs 29%	Horatio Nicholls	E♭ major	AABA · 33	Ballad
I Get Along Without You 28%	Hoagy Carmichael	B♭ major	AAB · 64	Ballad
It's Magic 28%	Jule Styne	B♭ major	ABCD · 32	Ballad

Frequently asked questions

What key is I'm In The Mood For Love in?

I'm In The Mood For Love is usually played in C major. For B♭ instruments that is D major, for E♭ instruments A major.

Who wrote I'm In The Mood For Love?

I'm In The Mood For Love was written by Jimmy McHugh.

What is the form of I'm In The Mood For Love?

I'm In The Mood For Love has 4 sections (AABA) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is I'm In The Mood For Love played?

The usual groove is Medium swing.

What are the chord changes to I'm In The Mood For Love?

The opening bars are Cmaj7 Am7 | Dm7 G7 | Dm7 G7 | Cmaj7 F7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.