Standards

It's De-lovely chords & key

Key: F major
Form: ABA
Bars: 36
Groove: Medium swing
Time signature: 4/4

“It's De-lovely” is a jazz standard by Cole Porter. It is usually played in F major as a medium swing, and the 36-bar ABA form has 3 sections. Harmonically it contains 2 major ii–V–I cadences and 2 minor ii–V–i, uses 20 different chords and moves between the key centres G minor, B♭ major and F major. In this atlas it appears on 21 album tracks.

Chord changes

to key

Showing in: Concert (C) — F major

F^aug

F⁶

F^maj7

F⁶

G♭^dim7

G^m7

A^m7♭5D^7♭9

G^m

G^m♭6

G^m6

C⁷

G^m7

A♭^dim7

F⁶

G^m7C⁷

C^m7F⁷

B♭^maj7C^m7D♭^m7

D^m7C^m7B♭^maj7

B♭^m6

C⁷

C^7susC⁷

F^aug

F⁶

F^maj7

A^m7♭5

D^7♭9

G^m7C⁷

F⁶

G^m7C⁷

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

Harmonic analysis

2Major ii–V–I

2Minor ii–V–i

9ii–V moves

0Tritone substitutions

0Dominant chains

20Different chords

Most used chords

C⁷×7
G^m7×6
F⁶×5
C^m7×4
F×3
F^maj7×3

Key centres reached by ii–V

G minor, B♭ major and F major

Recorded on these albums

1955	Rosemary Clooney at the London Palladium Rosemary Clooney accompanied by The Skyrockets Orchestra with Buddy Cole at the piano · “It’s De‐Lovely”
1955	Collaboration Shorty Rogers · “It's DeLovely”
1955	Shifting Winds Bob Cooper · “It's De-Lovely”
1956	Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Song Book Ella Fitzgerald · “It’s Delovely”
1956	For You, For Me, Forevermore Morgana King · “Delovely”
1958	Swing Softly Johnny Mathis · “It’s De-Lovely”
1959	Oscar Peterson Plays the Cole Porter Songbook Oscar Peterson · “It's De-Lovely”
1959	Anita O’Day Swings Cole Porter With Billy May Anita O’Day with Billy May · “It’s De‐Lovely”
1965	In Town Eugen Cicero · “It's De-Lovely”
1966	More Skitch Tonight! Skitch Hendersonand"The Tonight Show" Orchestra · “It's De-Lovely”
1982	Rosemary Clooney Sings the Music of Cole Porter Rosemary Clooney · “It's De-Lovely”
1987	Live at the Crescendo Mel Tormé · “It's De-Lovely”
1997	Close Your Eyes Stacey Kent · “It's Delovely”
2002	Date With the King / On Stage / Tenderly Rosemary Clooney · “It's Delovely”
2007	Sings Cole Porter Ella Fitzgerald · “It’s De‐Lovely”
2008	Mel Tormé at the Crescendo 1954&1957 Mel Tormé · “It's De-Lovely”
2011	Plays Cole Porter Philip Catherine · “It's De-Lovely”
2012	It’s a Wonderful World Stacey Kent · “Its Delovely”
2013	Mel Torme at the Red Hill Mel Torme · “It's Delovely”
2021	Love for Sale Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga · “It’s De‐Lovely”
2026	Early Years - Selected Albums 1956-58 Johnny Mathis

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

Title	Composer	Key	Form	Groove
It's Only a Paper Moon 26%	Harold Arlen	G major	AABA · 32	Medium swing
Three Little Words 25%	Harry Ruby	C major	AABA · 32	Medium-up swing
If I Knew Then (What I Know Now) 24%	Jurgens-Howard	E♭ major	AB · 32	Medium swing
My Secret Love 22%	Roger Vogel	E♭ major	AABC · 48	Medium swing
Call Me Irresponsible 21%	Jimmy Van-Heusen	F major	ABB · 28	Medium swing
In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning 20%	Mann-Hilliard	C major	AB · 18	Ballad

Frequently asked questions

What key is It's De-lovely in?

It's De-lovely is usually played in F major. For B♭ instruments that is G major, for E♭ instruments D major.

Who wrote It's De-lovely?

It's De-lovely was written by Cole Porter.

What is the form of It's De-lovely?

It's De-lovely has 3 sections (ABA) with 36 bars in total.

How fast is It's De-lovely played?

The usual groove is Medium swing.

What are the chord changes to It's De-lovely?

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