Standards

The Very Thought Of You chords & key

Key
A♭ major
Form
ABAC
Bars
32
Groove
Ballad
Time signature
4/4

“The Very Thought Of You” is a jazz standard by Ray Noble. It is usually played in A♭ major as a ballad, and the 32-bar ABAC form has 4 sections. Harmonically it contains 2 major ii–V–I cadences and 3 minor ii–V–i, uses 19 different chords and moves between the key centres F minor, A♭ major and C minor. In this atlas it appears on 24 album tracks.

Chord changes

Showing in: Concert (C) — A♭ major

A
A♭maj7D♭maj7
Cm7E♭7sus
A♭6D♭maj7
Cm7E♭7sus
A♭6B♭m7
Bdim7A♭6/C
B♭7
B♭7
B
B♭m7E♭7
Gm7♭5C7♭9
Fm7Fm7/E♭
Dm7♭5G7♭9
Cm7Fm7♭5
B♭7susB♭7
B♭m7
E♭7
A
A♭maj7D♭maj7
Cm7E♭7sus
A♭6D♭maj7
Cm7E♭7sus
A♭6B♭m7
Bdim7A♭6/C
B♭7
B♭7
C
B♭m7E♭7
Gm7♭5C7♭9
Fm7Fm7/E♭
Dm7♭5Adim7
B♭m7Adim7
B♭m7E♭7
A♭6
B♭m7E♭7

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

Harmonic analysis

2Major ii–V–I
3Minor ii–V–i
9ii–V moves
0Tritone substitutions
0Dominant chains
19Different chords

Most used chords

  • B♭m7×8
  • Cm7×5
  • A♭6×5
  • B♭7×5
  • E♭7×5
  • D♭maj7×4

Key centres reached by ii–V

F minor, A♭ major and C minor

Characteristics

  • ABAC song form

Recorded on these albums

1955 The Genius of Art Tatum #7
Art Tatum · “The Very Thought of You”
1956 Charlie Mariano
Charlie Mariano · “The Very Thought of You”
1956 For You
Earl Bostic · “The Very Thought of You”
1957 Jimmy Smith at the Organ: Plays Pretty Just for You
Jimmy Smith · “The Very Thought of You”
1957 Red Garland’s Piano
Red Garland · “The Very Thought of You”
1958 The Very Thought of You
Nat King Cole · “The Very Thought of You”
1958 'S Awful Nice
Ray Conniff · “The Every Thought of You”
1958 For You
Earl Bostic · “The Very Thought of You”
1959 My Thanks to You
Connie Francis · “The Very Thought of You”
1960 Softly
Dakota Staton · “The Very Thought of You”
1962 Sinatra Sings Great Songs From Great Britain
Frank Sinatra · “The Very Thought of You”
1962 Ella Swings Gently With Nelson
Ella Fitzgerald · “The Very Thought of You”
1962 Young and Lively
Vic Damone · “The Very Thought of You”
1962 Hip Twist
Shirley Scott
1963 Yesterday’s Love Songs / Today’s Blues
Nancy Wilson · “The Very Thought of You”
1965 Sarah + 2
Sarah Vaughan · “The Very Thought of You”
1965 The Sweetheart Tree
Johnny Mathis · “The Very Thought of You”
1965 Rendezvous
Bobby Hackett · “The Very Thought of You”
1966 A Time for Love
Tony Bennett · “The Very Thought of You”
1968 Mr. Acker Bilk's Folio of Great Songs
Mr. Acker Bilk & The Leon Young String Chorale · “The Very Thought of You”
1968 Fausto Papetti
Fausto Papetti · “The Very Thought of You”
1970 Other Voices
Erroll Garner · “The Very Thought of You”
1972 Jug & Dodo
Ammons & Marmarosa · “The Very Thought of You”
1974 If She Walked Into My Life
Billy Eckstine · “The Very Thought of You”

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

TitleComposerKeyFormGroove
With The Wind And The Rain In Your Hair 20% Clare Edwards E♭ major AB · 32 Medium swing

Frequently asked questions

What key is The Very Thought Of You in?

The Very Thought Of You is usually played in A♭ major. For B♭ instruments that is B♭ major, for E♭ instruments F major.

Who wrote The Very Thought Of You?

The Very Thought Of You was written by Ray Noble.

What is the form of The Very Thought Of You?

The Very Thought Of You has 4 sections (ABAC) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is The Very Thought Of You played?

The usual groove is Ballad.

What are the chord changes to The Very Thought Of You?

The opening bars are Abmaj7 Dbmaj7 | Cm7 Eb7sus | Ab6 Dbmaj7 | Cm7 Eb7sus. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.