Standards

Mean To Me chords & key

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

“Mean To Me” is a jazz standard by Turk-Ahlert. It is usually played in F major as a medium swing, and the 32-bar AABA form has 4 sections. Harmonically it contains 11 major ii–V–I cadences and 3 minor ii–V–i, uses 14 different chords and moves between the key centres F major, B♭ major and G minor. In this atlas it appears on 24 album tracks and in 1 transcribed solo.

Chord changes

to key

Showing in: Concert (C) — F major

F^maj7G♭^dim7

G^m7C⁷

F^maj7C^m7F⁷

B♭^maj7E♭⁷

A^m7D⁷

G^m7C⁷

F⁶D^m7

G⁷C⁷

F^maj7G♭^dim7

G^m7C⁷

F^maj7C^m7F⁷

B♭^maj7E♭⁷

A^m7D⁷

G^m7C⁷

F⁶D^m7

F⁶C^m7F⁷

B♭^maj7G^m7

C^m7F⁷

B♭⁶

E♭⁷D⁷

G^m7

E♭⁷D⁷

G⁷

C⁷

F^maj7G♭^dim7

G^m7C⁷

F^maj7C^m7F⁷

B♭^maj7E♭⁷

A^m7D⁷

G^m7C⁷

F⁶D^m7

G⁷C⁷

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

Harmonic analysis

11Major ii–V–I

3Minor ii–V–i

16ii–V moves

0Tritone substitutions

4Dominant chains

14Different chords

Most used chords

C⁷×9
G^m7×8
F^maj7×6
C^m7×5
F⁷×5
E♭⁷×5

Key centres reached by ii–V

F major, B♭ major and G minor

Characteristics

AABA song form

Recorded on these albums

1950	Sarah Vaughan Sarah Vaughan · “Mean to Me”
1954	Konitz Lee Konitz · “Mean to Me”
1955	Pres and Sweets Lester Young & Harry “Sweets” Edison · “Mean to Me”
1955	The Jazz Keyboards Lennie Tristano, Marian McPartland, Bobby Scott, Joe Bushkin · “Mean to Me”
1956	That Old Feeling Frank Sinatra
1956	Lonely Girl Julie London · “Mean to Me”
1957	Sarah Vaughan Sings Sarah Vaughan · “Mean to Me”
1957	She's The Tops! Cleo Laine · “Mean to Me”
1957	Moody's Mood for Love James Moody · “Mean to Me”
1957	A Ruby Braff Omnibus Ruby Braff · “Mean to Me”
1958	Benny Goodman Plays World Favorites Benny Goodman · “Mean to Me”
1958	Sings the Blues Morgana King · “Mean to Me”
1959	McLean’s Scene Jackie McLean · “Mean to Me”
1960	Fathead Ray Charles presents David Newman
1960	This Time I’m Swingin’! Dean Martin with orchestra conducted by Nelson Riddle · “Mean to Me”
1960	Clap Hands! Here Comes Rosie! Rosemary Clooney · “Mean to Me”
1960	The Modern Sound of Betty Carter Betty Carter · “Mean to Me”
1960	Work Song Nat Adderley · “Mean to Me”
1960	Tough ’Duff “Brother” Jack McDuff, Jimmy Forrest · “Mean to Me”
1961	More of the Greatest Piano of Them All Art Tatum · “Mean to Me”
1961	Palladium Jazz Date Cleo Laine & Tubby Hayes
1961	Stranger on the Shore Mr. Acker Bilk with The Leon Young String Chorale · “Mean to Me”
1961	Songs Before Dawn Maysa · “Mean to Me”
1962	Sweet, Sultry and Swinging Sarah Vaughan · “Mean to Me”

Transcribed solos on Mean To Me

Lee Konitz alto saxophone

139 BPM

Eb-maj

1954-08-06

Historic 78 rpm recordings

MEAN TO ME JOHNNIE GUARNIERI · Turk · Ahlert archive.org ↗
MEAN TO ME JOHNNIE GUARNIERI · Turk · Ahlert archive.org ↗
Mean to Me Bill Harris and his Septet · Bill Harris · Joe Phillips · Pete… · 1945 archive.org ↗
Mean to Me Bill Harris and his Septet · Bill Harris · Joe Phillips · Pete… · 1945 archive.org ↗
Mean to Me Johnnie Guarnieri · Turk · Ahlert · 1947 archive.org ↗
Mean to Me Illinois Jacquet and His Orch. · Turk · Ahlert · Norman Granz · 1953 archive.org ↗
Mean to Me Tab Smith; His Fabulous Alto and Combo · Turk · Ahlert · 1955 archive.org ↗

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

Title	Composer	Key	Form	Groove
I Want To Be Happy 34%	Vincent Youmans	C major	AABA · 32	Medium-up swing
Rockin' Chair 32%	Hoagy Carmichael	E♭ major	ABA · 32	Medium swing
Moonlight Becomes You 30%	Jimmy Van-Heusen	F major	AABA · 34	Ballad
You Took Advantage Of Me 29%	Richard Rodgers	E♭ major	AABA · 32	Medium swing
Deed I Do 27%	Hirsch-Rose	C major	AABA · 32	Medium swing
Again 26%	Lionel Newman	G major	AABC · 32	Ballad
Solitude 26%	Duke Ellington	E♭ major	AABA · 32	Ballad
All Too Soon 25%	Duke Ellington	C major	AABA · 32	Ballad

Frequently asked questions

What key is Mean To Me in?

Mean To Me is usually played in F major. For B♭ instruments that is G major, for E♭ instruments D major.

Who wrote Mean To Me?

Mean To Me was written by Turk-Ahlert.

What is the form of Mean To Me?

Mean To Me has 4 sections (AABA) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is Mean To Me played?

The usual groove is Medium swing. Transcribed solos in our data were played at 139 BPM.

What are the chord changes to Mean To Me?

The opening bars are Fmaj7 Gbdim7 | Gm7 C7 | Fmaj7 Cm7 F7 | Bbmaj7 Eb7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.