Standards

Thanks For The Memory chords & key

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

“Thanks For The Memory” is a jazz standard by Leo Robin. Most bands play it in F major, medium swing; the tune runs 32 bars in AABA form. Harmonically it contains 8 major ii–V–I cadences, uses 17 different chords and moves between the key centres F major and A♭ major. In this atlas it appears on 24 album tracks.

Chord changes

to key

Showing in: Concert (C) — F major

G^m7C⁷

F⁶

F⁶G♭^dim7

G^m7C⁷F⁶

G♭^dim7G^m7

A^dim7B♭⁶

G^m7

C⁷

E^m7♭5A^7♭5

A♭^maj7

B♭^m7E♭⁷

A♭^maj7

A^dim7

C^maj7A^m7

D^m7G⁷

G^m7

C^7♯5

G^m7C⁷

F⁶

F⁶G♭^dim7

G^m7C⁷F⁶

G♭^dim7G^m7

A^dim7B♭⁶

G^m7C⁷

F⁶D^7♭9

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

Harmonic analysis

8Major ii–V–I

0Minor ii–V–i

12ii–V moves

1Tritone substitutions

0Dominant chains

17Different chords

Most used chords

G^m7×13
F⁶×10
C⁷×8
G♭^dim7×6
A^dim7×4
B♭⁶×3

Key centres reached by ii–V

F major and A♭ major

Characteristics

AABA song form

Recorded on these albums

1951	Presenting Jimmy Raney Jimmy Raney · “Thanks for the Memory”
1955	Sweet and Hot Ella Fitzgerald · “Thanks for the Memory”
1956	Blue Serge Serge Chaloff · “Thanks for the Memory”
1958	Hollywood In Rhythm Ray Conniff · “Thanks for the Memory”
1959	After Hours at the London House Sarah Vaughan · “Thanks for the Memory”
1962	Time for 2 Anita O’Day & Cal Tjader · “Thanks for the Memory”
1963	One World Concert Erroll Garner
1966	Whisper Not Ella Fitzgerald · “Thanks for the Memory”
1979	8:30 Weather Report · “Thanks for the Memory (tenor sax solo)”
1981	She Shot Me Down Frank Sinatra · “Thanks for the Memory (album version)”
1981	Summerwind Ray Brown / Monty Alexander / Johnny Griffin / Martin Drew · “Thanks for the Memory”
1985	Rosemary Clooney Sings Ballads Rosemary Clooney · “Thanks for the Memory”
1987	Live at the Algonquin Michael Feinstein · “Thanks for the Memory”
1988	Stan Getz Plays Stan Getz · “Thanks for the Memory”
1992	The American Songbook, Volume 1 Rita Reys · “Thanks for the Memory”
1993	The Queen, Vol.5: Something to Remember Her By Maxine Sullivan · “Thanks for the Memory”
1995	Live in Chicago Sarah Vaughan · “Thanks for the Memory”
1996	Tenorlee Lee Konitz · “Thanks for Memory”
1998	Lullabies of Birdland / Sweet and Hot Ella Fitzgerald · “Thanks for the Memory”
1998	70: A Seventieth Birthday Celebration Rosemary Clooney · “Thanks for the Memory”
1998	Blowin' Country Bud Shank & Bob Cooper · “Thanks for the Memory”
2001	Dreamsville Stacey Kent · “Thanks for the Memory”
2001	Sweet & Lowdown Dave Van Ronk
2002	Forever Gold Sarah Vaughan · “Thanks for the Memory”

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

Title	Composer	Key	Form	Groove
You Better Go Now 26%	Reichner-Graham	E♭ major	ABC · 24	Medium swing
Alone Too Long 24%	Arthur Schwartz	G major	AABA · 32	Ballad
The Best Things In Life Are Free 23%	DeSylva-Brown-Henderson	C major	AB · 32	Medium-up swing
La Vie En Rose 22%	Guglielmi-Piaf-David	C major	ABC · 20	Ballad

Frequently asked questions

What key is Thanks For The Memory in?

Thanks For The Memory is usually played in F major. For B♭ instruments that is G major, for E♭ instruments D major.

Who wrote Thanks For The Memory?

Thanks For The Memory was written by Leo Robin.

What is the form of Thanks For The Memory?

Thanks For The Memory has 4 sections (AABA) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is Thanks For The Memory played?

The usual groove is Medium swing.

What are the chord changes to Thanks For The Memory?

The opening bars are Gm7 C7 | F6 | F6 Gbdim7 | Gm7 C7 F6. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.