Standards

It's Been A Long Long Time chords & key

Key: F major
Form: ABA
Bars: 16
Groove: Ballad
Time signature: 4/4

“It's Been A Long Long Time” is a jazz standard by Jule Styne. Most bands play it in F major, ballad; the tune runs 16 bars in ABA form. Harmonically it contains 1 major ii–V–I cadence and 2 minor ii–V–i, uses 14 different chords and moves between the key centres G minor and F major. In this atlas it appears on 24 album tracks.

Chord changes

to key

Showing in: Concert (C) — F major

FF^maj7

F⁶

F⁶G♭^dim7

C⁷

G^m7D⁷

G^m7C⁷

G^m7C^7♯5

F^maj7

F^maj7A^m7♭5

D^7♭9

G^m7B♭^m6

D♭⁷C⁷

FF^maj7

A^m7D⁷

G^m7G♭⁷

F⁶G^m7C⁷

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

Harmonic analysis

1Major ii–V–I

2Minor ii–V–i

5ii–V moves

1Tritone substitutions

0Dominant chains

14Different chords

Most used chords

G^m7×6
F^maj7×4
C⁷×4
F⁶×3
F×2
D⁷×2

Key centres reached by ii–V

G minor and F major

Recorded on these albums

1957	Here’s Hibbler Al Hibbler · “It’s Been a Long, Long Time”
1958	Things Are Swingin’ Peggy Lee · “It’s Been a Long, Long Time”
1958	Bobby Hackett at The Embers Bobby Hackett · “It's Been a Long, Long Time”
1959	Swingin’ Pretty Keely Smith · “It’s Been a Long, Long Time”
1963	My Coloring Book and Her Other Great Hits Kitty Kallen · “It’s Been a Long, Long Time”
1964	Hello, Dolly! Louis Armstrong · “It’s Been a Long, Long Time”
1966	They're Playing Our Song Al Hirt · “It's Been a Long, Long Time”
1966	A Taste of Honey Pete Fountain · “It's Been a Long, Long Time”
1971	The Mellow Horn Harry James · “It's Been a Long, Long Time”
1976	Chester & Lester Chet Atkins & Les Paul · “It's Been a Long Time”
1991	Giants of the Big Band Era Harry James · “It's Been a Long, Long Time”
1995	You Made Me Love You Harry James · “It's Been a Long, Long Time”
1998	Frank Sinatra - Legend Vocal Gold Series Frank Sinatra · “It's Been A LOng, Long Time”
1999	All the Way: Etta Jones Sings Sammy Cahn Etta Jones · “It’s Been a Long, Long Time”
2000	Don't Fence Me In Bing Crosby · “It's Been a Long, Long Time”
2000	Politely! / Swingin’ Pretty Keely Smith · “It’s Been a Long, Long Time”
2001	Band Singer Kitty Kallen · “It’s Been a Long Long Time”
2002	It’s Easy to Remember Bing Crosby · “It’s Been a Long, Long Time”
2006	You Want HARRY JAMES & HIS ORCHESTRA Well, Here It Is! Harry James · “It’s Been a Long, Long Time”
2008	Together (Maxine Sullivan Sings the Music of Jule Styne) Maxine Sullivan with The Keith Ingham Sextet · “It’s Been a Long, Long Time”
2011	The Windmills of Your Mind Paul Motian · “It's Been a Long, Long Time”
2012	Everybody loves the lover Sacha Distel · “It's Been a Long, Long Time”
2012	Red Tails Terence Blanchard · “It's Been A Long, Long Time”
2016	It's Been A Long, Long Time Harry James · “It's Been A Long, Long Time”

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

Title	Composer	Key	Form	Groove
Bye Bye Blackbird 37%	Ray Henderson	F major	AB · 32	Medium swing
Down In The Depths 26%	Cole Porter	G major	AAB · 54	Medium swing
You Can Depend On Me 26%	Carpenter-Dunlap-Hines	F major	AABA · 32	Medium-up swing
Come Back To Me 24%	Alan Lerner, Burton Lane	F major	AABA · 32	Medium swing
Fools Rush In 24%	Rube Bloom	C major	ABAC · 32	Slow swing
How Are Things In Glocca Morra 24%	Burton Lane	F major	AAB · 30	Ballad
I Wish I Knew 24%	Harry Warren	G major	ABAC · 32	Ballad
Violets For Your Furs 23%	Adair-Dennis	F major	ABAC · 32	Ballad

Frequently asked questions

What key is It's Been A Long Long Time in?

It's Been A Long Long Time is usually played in F major. For B♭ instruments that is G major, for E♭ instruments D major.

Who wrote It's Been A Long Long Time?

It's Been A Long Long Time was written by Jule Styne.

What is the form of It's Been A Long Long Time?

It's Been A Long Long Time has 3 sections (ABA) with 16 bars in total.

How fast is It's Been A Long Long Time played?

The usual groove is Ballad.

What are the chord changes to It's Been A Long Long Time?

The opening bars are F Fmaj7 | F6 | F6 Gbdim7 | C7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.