Standards

In Love In Vain chords & key

Key: B♭ major
Form: ABAC
Bars: 32
Groove: Medium swing
Time signature: 4/4

“In Love In Vain” is a jazz standard by Leo Robin Jerome Kern. Most bands play it in B♭ major, medium swing; the tune runs 32 bars in ABAC form. Harmonically it contains 7 major ii–V–I cadences and 4 minor ii–V–i, uses 15 different chords and moves between the key centres B♭ major, C minor, G minor and D minor. In this atlas it appears on 1 album track.

Chord changes

to key

Showing in: Concert (C) — B♭ major

B♭^maj7G^m7

C^m7F⁷

B♭^maj7G^m7

C^m7F⁷

B♭^maj7G^m7

C^m7F⁷

D^m7

G⁷

C^m7F⁷

B♭^maj7

A^m7♭5D^7♭9

G^m7

C⁷

C^m7

F⁷

B♭^maj7G^m7

C^m7F⁷

B♭^maj7G^m7

C^m7F⁷

B♭^maj7G^m7

C^m7F⁷

D^m7♭5

G^7♭9

E♭^maj7

E^m7♭5A^7♭9

D^m7

G⁷

C^m7

F⁷

B♭⁶

C^m7F⁷

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

Harmonic analysis

7Major ii–V–I

4Minor ii–V–i

16ii–V moves

0Tritone substitutions

0Dominant chains

15Different chords

Most used chords

C^m7×10
F⁷×10
B♭^maj7×7
G^m7×7
D^m7×2
G⁷×2

Key centres reached by ii–V

B♭ major, C minor, G minor and D minor

Characteristics

ABAC song form

Recorded on these albums

1966	Lena in Hollywood Lena Horne · “In Love in Vain”

Historic 78 rpm recordings

IN LOVE IN VAIN CARMEN McRAE · Larry Elgart and his orchestra · Leo Robin · Jerome… · 1953 archive.org ↗

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

Title	Composer	Key	Form	Groove
Too Young To Go Steady 45%	Jimmy McHugh	F major	AABA · 32	Ballad
For Sentimental Reasons 43%	William Best	F major	AABA · 32	Slow swing
If There Is Someone Lovelier 41%	Dietz-Schwartz	C major	ABC · 28	Ballad
Dinah 39%	Harry Akst	G major	BBA · 24	Medium-up swing
Falling In Love With Love 39%	Richard Rodgers	B♭ major	AA · 64	Jazz waltz
Teach Me Tonight 39%	Gene DePaul	E♭ major	AABA · 32	Slow swing
Billy Boy 38%	Traditional	C major	AABA · 56	Medium-up swing
Little Willie Leaps 38%	Charlie Parker	F major	AA · 32	Up-tempo swing

Frequently asked questions

What key is In Love In Vain in?

In Love In Vain is usually played in B♭ major. For B♭ instruments that is C major, for E♭ instruments G major.

Who wrote In Love In Vain?

In Love In Vain was written by Leo Robin Jerome Kern.

What is the form of In Love In Vain?

In Love In Vain has 4 sections (ABAC) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is In Love In Vain played?

The usual groove is Medium swing.

What are the chord changes to In Love In Vain?

The opening bars are Bbmaj7 Gm7 | Cm7 F7 | Bbmaj7 Gm7 | Cm7 F7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.