ENDEIT

Standards

Look For The Silver Lining chords & key

Jerome Kern

Key
E♭ major
Form
ABA
Bars
32
Groove
Medium swing
Time signature
4/4

“Look For The Silver Lining” is a jazz standard by Jerome Kern. Most bands play it in E♭ major, medium swing; the tune runs 32 bars in ABA form. Harmonically it contains 6 major ii–V–I cadences and 2 minor ii–V–i, uses 14 different chords and moves between the key centres E♭ major, A♭ major, G minor and F minor.

Chord changes

Showing in: Concert (C) — E♭ major

A
E♭maj7
Fm7B♭7
E♭maj7
Fm7B♭7
Gm7
A♭7
Gm7
Cm7
·
Fm7
B♭7
E♭maj7
E♭maj7
Cm7
F7
Fm7
B♭7
B
E♭maj7
Fm7B♭7
E♭maj7
Fm7B♭7
B♭m7
E♭7
A♭maj7
A♭maj7
A
Cm7
Am7♭5D7♭9
Gm7
C7
Fm7
B♭7
E♭6
Fm7B♭7

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

Harmonic analysis

6Major ii–V–I
2Minor ii–V–i
12ii–V moves
1Tritone substitutions
0Dominant chains
14Different chords

Most used chords

  • Fm7×8
  • B♭7×8
  • E♭maj7×6
  • Gm7×3
  • Cm7×3
  • A♭maj7×2

Key centres reached by ii–V

E♭ major, A♭ major, G minor and F minor

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

TitleComposerKeyFormGroove
Why Do I Love You? 38% Jerome Kern A♭ major AA · 32 Medium swing
In Love In Vain 35% Leo Robin Jerome Kern B♭ major ABAC · 32 Medium swing
Mountain Greenery 30% Richard Rodgers C major AABA · 32 Medium-up swing
The Blue Room 29% Richard Rodgers F major AABC · 32 Medium swing
Days Of Wine And Roses 29% Henry Mancini F major ABAC · 32 Medium swing
Eclypso 29% Tommy Flanagan E♭ major AABA · 32 Latin/swing
The Joker 29% Lee Morgan E♭ major AABA · 32 Medium swing
Little Willie Leaps 29% Charlie Parker F major AA · 32 Up-tempo swing

Frequently asked questions

What key is Look For The Silver Lining in?

Look For The Silver Lining is usually played in E♭ major. For B♭ instruments that is F major, for E♭ instruments C major.

Who wrote Look For The Silver Lining?

Look For The Silver Lining was written by Jerome Kern.

What is the form of Look For The Silver Lining?

Look For The Silver Lining has 3 sections (ABA) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is Look For The Silver Lining played?

The usual groove is Medium swing.

What are the chord changes to Look For The Silver Lining?

The opening bars are Ebmaj7 | Fm7 Bb7 | Ebmaj7 | Fm7 Bb7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.