Standards

Love Is The Sweetest Thing chords & key

Key
D major
Form
AABA
Bars
32
Groove
Medium swing
Time signature
4/4

“Love Is The Sweetest Thing” is a jazz standard by Ray Noble. Most bands play it in D major, medium swing; the tune runs 32 bars in AABA form. Harmonically it contains 9 major ii–V–I cadences and 2 minor ii–V–i, uses 13 different chords and moves between the key centres D major, G major, E minor and B minor.

Chord changes

Showing in: Concert (C) — D major

A
D6Bm7
Em7A7
D6Bm7
Em7A7
Am7D7
Gmaj7Em7
1.
Bm7E7
Em7A7
2.
Bm7E7
A7D6
B
Bm7
F♯m7B7
Em7A7
Dmaj7
C♯m7♭5F♯7
Bm7
E7
Em7A7
A
D6Bm7
Em7A7
D6Bm7
Em7A7
Am7D7
Gmaj7Em7
Bm7E7A7
D6

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

Harmonic analysis

9Major ii–V–I
2Minor ii–V–i
18ii–V moves
0Tritone substitutions
2Dominant chains
13Different chords

Most used chords

  • Em7×12
  • Bm7×11
  • A7×11
  • D6×8
  • E7×4
  • Am7×3

Key centres reached by ii–V

D major, G major, E minor and B minor

Characteristics

  • AABA song form

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

TitleComposerKeyFormGroove
If There Is Someone Lovelier 38% Dietz-Schwartz C major ABC · 28 Ballad
Oh, Lady Be Good 38% George Gershwin G major AABA · 32 Medium-up swing
Ballade 36% Charlie Parker F major AABA · 32 Ballad
For Sentimental Reasons 36% William Best F major AABA · 32 Slow swing
In Love In Vain 36% Leo Robin Jerome Kern B♭ major ABAC · 32 Medium swing
Mountain Greenery 35% Richard Rodgers C major AABA · 32 Medium-up swing
Why Do I Love You? 35% Jerome Kern A♭ major AA · 32 Medium swing
Alone Too Long 33% Arthur Schwartz G major AABA · 32 Ballad

Frequently asked questions

What key is Love Is The Sweetest Thing in?

Love Is The Sweetest Thing is usually played in D major. For B♭ instruments that is E major, for E♭ instruments B major.

Who wrote Love Is The Sweetest Thing?

Love Is The Sweetest Thing was written by Ray Noble.

What is the form of Love Is The Sweetest Thing?

Love Is The Sweetest Thing has 4 sections (AABA) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is Love Is The Sweetest Thing played?

The usual groove is Medium swing.

What are the chord changes to Love Is The Sweetest Thing?

The opening bars are D6 Bm7 | Em7 A7 | D6 Bm7 | Em7 A7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.