Standards
Li'l Darling chords & key
- Key
- F major
- Form
- ABAC
- Bars
- 32
- Groove
- Medium swing
- Time signature
- 4/4
“Li'l Darling” is a jazz standard by Neal Hefti. Most bands play it in F major, medium swing; the tune runs 32 bars in ABAC form. Harmonically it contains 1 major ii–V–I cadence, uses 13 different chords. In this atlas it appears on 6 album tracks.
Chord changes
Showing in: Concert (C) — F major
Changes as commonly played (concert pitch). Your band's version may differ.
Harmonic analysis
Most used chords
- G7×7
- Gm7×6
- D7♭9×6
- C7♭9×4
- F7×4
- B♭6×4
Characteristics
- ABAC song form
Recorded on these albums
| 1964 | Sunday Melody Greetje Kauffeld · “Li’l Darling” |
| 1970 | Intercontinental Joe Pass · “Lil’ Darling” |
| 1973 | Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow Gene Harris · “Lil' Darling” |
| 1989 | One O'Clock Jump Count Basie · “Lil' Darling” |
| 2006 | På Café Katalin Torsdag 14 September 1989 Monica Zetterlund |
| 2016 | One Night in Indy Wes Montgomery featuring The Eddie Higgins Trio · “Li’l Darling” |
Standards with similar changes
Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.
Frequently asked questions
What key is Li'l Darling in?
Li'l Darling is usually played in F major. For B♭ instruments that is G major, for E♭ instruments D major.
Who wrote Li'l Darling?
Li'l Darling was written by Neal Hefti.
What is the form of Li'l Darling?
Li'l Darling has 4 sections (ABAC) with 32 bars in total.
How fast is Li'l Darling played?
The usual groove is Medium swing.
What are the chord changes to Li'l Darling?
The opening bars are G7 | Gm7 C7b9 | Am7 | D7b9. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.