Standards
Is You Is Or Is You Ain't (Ma' Baby) chords & key
- Key
- A♭ major
- Form
- AABCB
- Bars
- 52
- Groove
- Medium swing
- Time signature
- 4/4
“Is You Is Or Is You Ain't (Ma' Baby)” is a jazz standard by Austin-Jordan. Most bands play it in A♭ major, medium swing; the tune runs 52 bars in AABCB form. Harmonically it contains no major ii–V–I cadences and 3 minor ii–V–i, uses 19 different chords and moves between the key centres F minor and B♭ minor.
Chord changes
Showing in: Concert (C) — A♭ major
Changes as commonly played (concert pitch). Your band's version may differ.
Harmonic analysis
Most used chords
- D♭7×12
- C7×11
- Fm7×10
- B♭7×8
- Fm7/E♭×7
- E♭7×6
Key centres reached by ii–V
F minor and B♭ minor
Historic 78 rpm recordings
- Is You Is, or Is You Aint Cootie Williams and his Orchestra · Austin · Jordan · 1944 archive.org ↗
- IS YOU IS, OR IS YOU AIN'T (MA' BABY) ADRIAN ROLLINI TRIO · SYLVIA BARRY · 1944 archive.org ↗
Standards with similar changes
Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.
| Title | Key |
|---|---|
| Confirmation 22% | F major |
Frequently asked questions
What key is Is You Is Or Is You Ain't (Ma' Baby) in?
Is You Is Or Is You Ain't (Ma' Baby) is usually played in A♭ major. For B♭ instruments that is B♭ major, for E♭ instruments F major.
Who wrote Is You Is Or Is You Ain't (Ma' Baby)?
Is You Is Or Is You Ain't (Ma' Baby) was written by Austin-Jordan.
What is the form of Is You Is Or Is You Ain't (Ma' Baby)?
Is You Is Or Is You Ain't (Ma' Baby) has 5 sections (AABCB) with 52 bars in total.
How fast is Is You Is Or Is You Ain't (Ma' Baby) played?
The usual groove is Medium swing.
What are the chord changes to Is You Is Or Is You Ain't (Ma' Baby)?
The opening bars are Fm7 Fm7/Eb | Db7 C7 | Fm7 Fm7/Eb | Db7 C7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.