Standards

Taking A Chance On Love chords & key

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

“Taking A Chance On Love” is a jazz standard by Vernon Duke. It is usually played in F major as a medium swing, and the 32-bar AABA form has 4 sections. Harmonically it contains 9 major ii–V–I cadences, uses 20 different chords and moves between the key centres F major, B♭ major and A♭ major. In this atlas it appears on 24 album tracks.

Chord changes

Showing in: Concert (C) — F major

A
Fmaj7Dm7
Gm7D7
Gm7C7
Fmaj7A7
Dm7
G7
1.
Gm7C7
Am7A♭7Gm7C7
2.
Gm7C7
F6
B
Cm7F7
B♭6G7
Cm7F7
B♭maj7
B♭m7E♭7
A♭6Adim7
B♭m7Bdim7
C7
A
Fmaj7Dm7
Gm7D7
Gm7C7
Fmaj7A7
Dm7
G7
Gm7C7
F6GmC7

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

Harmonic analysis

9Major ii–V–I
0Minor ii–V–i
14ii–V moves
1Tritone substitutions
0Dominant chains
20Different chords

Most used chords

  • Gm7×10
  • C7×9
  • Fmaj7×6
  • Dm7×6
  • G7×4
  • D7×3

Key centres reached by ii–V

F major, B♭ major and A♭ major

Characteristics

  • AABA song form

Recorded on these albums

1949 Shades of Blue
Ethel Waters · “Taking a Chance on Love”
1954 Swing Easy!
Frank Sinatra · “Taking a Chance on Love”
1955 Sweet and Hot
Ella Fitzgerald · “Taking a Chance on Love”
1955 Jazz Recital
Dizzy Gillespie · “Taking a Chance on Love”
1955 Mr. B. With a Beat
Billy Eckstine sings with George Shearing Quintet, Woody Herman and His Orchestra, The Metronome All Stars · “Taking a Chance on Love”
1956 Sonny Stitt Bud Powell J.J. Johnson
Sonny Stitt, Bud Powell & J.J. Johnson · “Taking a Chance on Love”
1956 Jazz Spectacular
Frankie Laine & Buck Clayton · “Taking a Chance on Love”
1956 Her Trio Her Quartet
Toshiko · “Taking a Chance on Love”
1956 Zoot!
Zoot Sims · “Taking a Chance on Love”
1956 The Swinging Guitar of Tal Farlow
Tal Farlow · “Taking a Chance on Love”
1956 Max Bennett Plays
Max Bennett
1957 Tony
Tony Bennett · “Taking a Chance on Love”
1957 Anita Sings the Most
Anita O’Day · “Taking a Chance on Love”
1957 Kenny Drew Trio
Kenny Drew with Paul Chambers, Philly Joe Jones · “Taking a Chance on Love”
1957 The Cool Voice of Rita Reys
Rita Reys with the Jazz Messengers and Wessel Ilcken Combo · “Taking a Chance on Love”
1958 Plays Vernon Duke
Andre Previn · “Taking a Chance on Love”
1959 In Person!
Tony Bennett with Count Basie & His Orchestra · “Taking a Chance on Love”
1959 You're Getting to Be a Habit With Me
Ruby Braff · “Taking a Chance on Love”
1960 The Rhythms & Ballads Of Broadway
Johnny Mathis · “Taking a Chance on Love”
1960 For Singers 'n Swingers - Sing or Play With the Mal Waldron Trio
The Mal Waldron Trio · “Taking a Chance on Love”
1961 The Ballads of Broadway
Johnny Mathis · “Taking a Chance on Love”
1962 I Left My Heart in San Francisco
Tony Bennett · “Taking a Chance on Love”
1962 Cabin in the Sky
Curtis Fuller · “The Prayer / Taking a Chance on Love”
1964 The Third Album
Barbra Streisand · “Taking a Chance on Love”

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

TitleComposerKeyFormGroove
One Morning In May 35% Hoagy Carmichael G major AAB · 48 Up-tempo swing
Young And Foolish 33% Albert Hague C major ABAC · 32 Ballad
Ballade 32% Charlie Parker F major AABA · 32 Ballad
It's A Lovely Day Today 30% Irving Berlin B♭ major ABB · 28 Medium swing
Little Girl Blue 28% Richard Rodgers F major AAB · 44 Medium swing
On The Sunny Side Of The Street 28% Jimmy McHugh C major AABA · 32 Medium swing
Palo Alto 28% Lee Konitz F major ABA · 32 Up-tempo swing
Elora 27% J.J. Johnson B♭ major AABA · 32 Medium swing

Frequently asked questions

What key is Taking A Chance On Love in?

Taking A Chance On Love is usually played in F major. For B♭ instruments that is G major, for E♭ instruments D major.

Who wrote Taking A Chance On Love?

Taking A Chance On Love was written by Vernon Duke.

What is the form of Taking A Chance On Love?

Taking A Chance On Love has 4 sections (AABA) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is Taking A Chance On Love played?

The usual groove is Medium swing.

What are the chord changes to Taking A Chance On Love?

The opening bars are Fmaj7 Dm7 | Gm7 D7 | Gm7 C7 | Fmaj7 A7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.