Standards

Two For The Road chords & key

Key
G major
Form
ABAD
Bars
32
Groove
Ballad
Time signature
4/4

“Two For The Road” is a jazz standard by Henry Mancini. Most bands play it in G major, ballad; the tune runs 32 bars in ABAD form. Harmonically it contains 1 major ii–V–I cadence and 6 minor ii–V–i, uses 28 different chords and moves between the key centres E minor, D minor, C minor and G major. In this atlas it appears on 24 album tracks.

Chord changes

Showing in: Concert (C) — G major

A
F♯m7♭5
B7♭9
Em7Em7/D
Cmaj7Cmaj7/B
Am7
D7susD7♭9
Cdim7/GGmaj7
F♯m7B7♭9
B
Em7B7♭13
Em7A7♭9
Dm7A7♭13
Dm7G7♭9
Em7♭5A7♭9
Dm7♭5G7♭9
Cmaj7Cmaj7/B
Am7Am7/G
A
F♯m7♭5
B7♭9
Em7Em7/D
Cmaj7Cmaj7/B
Am7
D7susD7♭9
Cdim7/GGmaj7
G7/F
D
Em7Em7/D
C♯m7♭5Cm6
Bm7Em7/D
Cmaj7
Bm7A♯7
Am7D13♭9
G6
Dm7G7

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

Harmonic analysis

1Major ii–V–I
6Minor ii–V–i
11ii–V moves
1Tritone substitutions
0Dominant chains
28Different chords

Most used chords

  • Em7×5
  • Em7/D×4
  • Cmaj7×4
  • Am7×4
  • B7♭9×3
  • Cmaj7/B×3

Key centres reached by ii–V

E minor, D minor, C minor and G major

Recorded on these albums

1967 Two for the Road
Mancini - Henry Mancini and His Orchestra · “Two for the Road (choir version)”
1967 Somethin’ Groovy!
Peggy Lee · “Two for the Road”
1967 The Damone Type of Thing
Vic Damone · “Two for the Road”
1968 Delicately "The Stroke Of Genius"
Charlie Byrd
1969 Six Hours Past Sunset
Henry Mancini, His Piano, Orchestra & Chorus · “Two for the Road”
1974 Award Winning Hits, Volume 2
Henry Mancini · “Two for the Road”
1974 Award Winning Hits Vol. 2
Henry Mancini · “Two for the Road”
1980 Two for the Road
George Shearing / Carmen McRae · “Two for the Road”
1980 Late Night Guitar
Earl Klugh · “Two for the Road”
1984 In the Pink
James Galway & Henry Mancini · “Two for the Road”
1989 Split
Patricia Barber · “Two for the Road”
1991 The Music of Henry Mancini
Henry Mancini; Richard Hayman and His Orchestra · “Two for the Road”
1992 As Time Goes By and Other Classic Movie Love Songs
Henry Mancini & The Mancini Pops Orchestra · “Two for the Road”
1995 Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz
Marian McPartland with guest Henry Mancini · “Two for the Road”
1997 Beyond the Missouri Sky (Short Stories)
Charlie Haden & Pat Metheny · “Two for the Road”
1997 Two for the Road: The Music of Henry Mancini
Dave Grusin · “Two for the Road”
1997 Vic Damone
Vic Damone · “Two for the Road”
1997 Moody Plays Mancini
James Moody · “Two for the Road”
2003 The Best of Henry Mancini
Henry Mancini · “Two for the Road”
2004 Ultimate Mancini
Henry Mancini feat. Monica Mancini · “Two for the Road”
2015 Chain of Days
Silje Nergaard · “Two for the Road”
2023 Vol. 1
Chris Botti · “Two for the Road”
2024 Henry Mancini Centennial
Henry Mancini; Orquesta Filarmónica de Málaga, José María Moreno Valiente · “Two for the road”
— Song for Suzy
Dudley Moore · “Two for the Road”

Frequently asked questions

What key is Two For The Road in?

Two For The Road is usually played in G major. For B♭ instruments that is A major, for E♭ instruments E major.

Who wrote Two For The Road?

Two For The Road was written by Henry Mancini.

What is the form of Two For The Road?

Two For The Road has 4 sections (ABAD) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is Two For The Road played?

The usual groove is Ballad.

What are the chord changes to Two For The Road?

The opening bars are F#m7b5 | B7b9 | Em7 Em7/D | Cmaj7 Cmaj7/B. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.