Standards

Someone To Watch Over Me chords & key

Key: E♭ major
Form: AB
Bars: 32
Groove: Ballad
Time signature: 4/4

“Someone To Watch Over Me” is a jazz standard by George Gershwin. It is usually played in E♭ major as a ballad, and the 32-bar AB form has 2 sections. Harmonically it contains 2 major ii–V–I cadences, uses 19 different chords. In this atlas it appears on 24 album tracks.

Chord changes

to key

Showing in: Concert (C) — E♭ major

E♭^maj7E♭⁷

A♭^maj7A♭^dim7

E♭^maj7_/GG♭^dim7

B♭⁷_/FE^dim7

F^m7G^dim

A^m7♭5B♭⁷

G^7♯5C⁷

F^m7B♭⁷

E♭⁶

E♭⁷

A♭^maj7

A♭^m6

E♭⁶_/G

A^m7♭5D^7♭9

G^7♭13

C⁷

F^m7B♭⁷

E♭^maj7E♭⁷

A♭^maj7A♭^dim7

E♭^maj7_/GG♭^dim7

B♭⁷_/FE^dim7

F^m7G^dim

A^m7♭5B♭⁷

E♭⁶

F^m7B♭⁷

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

Harmonic analysis

2Major ii–V–I

0Minor ii–V–i

4ii–V moves

0Tritone substitutions

3Dominant chains

19Different chords

Most used chords

F^m7×6
B♭⁷×6
A♭^maj7×5
E♭⁷×4
A^m7♭5×4
E♭^maj7×3

Recorded on these albums

1946	The Voice of Frank Sinatra Frank Sinatra · “Someone to Watch Over Me”
1950	Ella Sings Gershwin Ella Fitzgerald with Ellis Larkins at the Piano · “Someone to Watch Over Me”
1951	Erroll Garner, Vol. 2 Erroll Garner · “Someone to Watch Over Me”
1951	Presenting Jimmy Raney Jimmy Raney · “Someone to Watch over Me”
1952	Gene Norman Presents an Art Tatum Concert Art Tatum · “Someone to Watch Over Me”
1954	In a Sentimental Mood Johnny Smith · “Someone to Watch Over Me”
1955	Sings and Plays With Bud Shank, Russ Freeman and Strings Chet Baker · “Someone to Watch Over Me”
1955	The Genius of Art Tatum #7 Art Tatum · “Someone to Watch Over Me”
1955	Shearing...... By Request George Shearing · “Someone to Watch Over Me”
1955	Jazz Original Bud Powell
1955	This Is Chris Chris Connor featuring Kai Winding, J.J. Johnson, Ralph Sharon, Herbie Mann, Joe Puma, Osie Johnson, Milt Hinton · “Someone to Watch Over Me”
1955	Gershwin, Shavers and Strings Charlie Shavers · “Someone to Watch Over Me”
1956	Byrd's Word Donald Byrd · “Someone to Watch Over Me”
1956	Asmussen Moods Svend Asmussen · “Someone to Watch Over Me”
1956	Four Horns and a Lush Life Frank Rosolino · “Someone to Watch Over Me”
1956	Moods With Johnny Smith Guitar Johnny Smith · “Someone to Watch Over Me”
1957	Sarah Vaughan Sings George Gershwin Sarah Vaughan · “Someone to Watch Over Me”
1957	Last Night When We Were Young Art Farmer with The Quincy Jones Orchestra · “Someone to Watch Over Me”
1957	's Marvelous Ray Conniff · “Someone to Watch Over Me”
1958	It’s All Over but the Swingin’ Sammy Davis Jr. · “Someone to Watch Over Me”
1958	A Date With Della Reese at Mr. Kelly's in Chicago Della Reese With The Kirk Stuart Trio · “Someone to Watch Over Me”
1958	I'll Take Romance Bud Shank / Len Mercer Strings · “Someone to Watch Over Me”
1958	A Jimmy Raney · “Someone to Watch Over Me”
1958	Jimmy Raney Visits Paris Jimmy Raney

Historic 78 rpm recordings

Someone to Watch over Me Kai Winding Quintet · Brew Moore · Don Lamond · Lou Stein · Jack… · 1951 archive.org ↗

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

Title	Composer	Key	Form	Groove
Falling In Love Again 21%	Frederick Hollander	C major	AABA · 32	Jazz waltz
La Vie En Rose 21%	Guglielmi-Piaf-David	C major	ABC · 20	Ballad
I Don't Want To Miss Mississippi 20%	Serger Ellis	G major	AAB · 48	Medium swing

Frequently asked questions

What key is Someone To Watch Over Me in?

Someone To Watch Over Me is usually played in E♭ major. For B♭ instruments that is F major, for E♭ instruments C major.

Who wrote Someone To Watch Over Me?

Someone To Watch Over Me was written by George Gershwin.

What is the form of Someone To Watch Over Me?

Someone To Watch Over Me has 2 sections (AB) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is Someone To Watch Over Me played?

The usual groove is Ballad.

What are the chord changes to Someone To Watch Over Me?

The opening bars are Ebmaj7 Eb7 | Abmaj7 Abdim7 | Ebmaj7/G Gbdim7 | Bb7/F Edim7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.