Standards
The Best Thing For You Is Me chords & key
- Key
- C major
- Form
- AABC
- Bars
- 36
- Groove
- Medium swing
- Time signature
- 4/4
“The Best Thing For You Is Me” is a jazz standard by Irving Berlin. Most bands play it in C major, medium swing; the tune runs 36 bars in AABC form. Harmonically it contains 6 major ii–V–I cadences and 7 minor ii–V–i, uses 20 different chords and moves between the key centres C major, D minor, E minor and A♭ major. In this atlas it appears on 6 album tracks.
Chord changes
Showing in: Concert (C) — C major
Changes as commonly played (concert pitch). Your band's version may differ.
Harmonic analysis
Most used chords
- Dm7×8
- G7×8
- A7×5
- Em7×4
- G♭m7×3
- B7♭13×3
Key centres reached by ii–V
C major, D minor, E minor and A♭ major
Recorded on these albums
| 1960 | Art Art Farmer · “The Best Thing for You Is Me” |
| 1961 | Take a Number From 1 to 10 Benny Golson · “The Best Thing for You Is Me” |
| 1979 | One Of A Kind Della Reese · “The Best Thing for You Is Me” |
| 1992 | What's New Joe Pass · “The Best Thing for You Is Me” |
| 1995 | Face the Music Dick Hyman · “The Best Thing for You Is Me” |
| — | Essential Classics, Vol. 886: Art Farmer Art Farmer · “The Best thing for You is Me” |
Standards with similar changes
Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.
| Title | Key |
|---|---|
| Smoke Gets In Your Eyes 27% | E♭ major |
| The Rainbow Connection 26% | G major |
| Too Young To Go Steady 26% | F major |
| Don't Be That Way 24% | D♭ major |
| Give Me The Simple Life 23% | E♭ major |
| In Love In Vain 23% | B♭ major |
| This Time The Dream's On Me 23% | G major |
| Airmail Special 22% | C major |
Frequently asked questions
What key is The Best Thing For You Is Me in?
The Best Thing For You Is Me is usually played in C major. For B♭ instruments that is D major, for E♭ instruments A major.
Who wrote The Best Thing For You Is Me?
The Best Thing For You Is Me was written by Irving Berlin.
What is the form of The Best Thing For You Is Me?
The Best Thing For You Is Me has 4 sections (AABC) with 36 bars in total.
How fast is The Best Thing For You Is Me played?
The usual groove is Medium swing.
What are the chord changes to The Best Thing For You Is Me?
The opening bars are Gbm7 | B7b13 | Em7 A7 | Dm7 G7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.