But Beautiful — Chord Changes & Harmonic Analysis
- Composer:
- Jimmy Van Heusen
- Year:
- 1947
- Key:
- G major
- Form:
- AABA (32 bars)
- Style:
- Ballad
- Tempo:
- 60–100 BPM
A classic ballad with sophisticated harmony. Features chromatic movement and effective use of secondary dominants.
About This Standard
Composed by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Johnny Burke in 1947 for the film Road to Rio, But Beautiful became a favorite ballad of Frank Sinatra and has since been adopted by jazz musicians as a vehicle for lush, introspective improvisation. Its gentle, flowing harmonic language and expressive lyric quality suit both vocal and instrumental performance.
Notable recordings:
- Frank Sinatra — (1957 and other recordings)
- Bill Evans — (various recordings)
- Ahmad Jamal — (various recordings)
Chord Changes
Notation
Harmonic Analysis
But Beautiful is a 32-bar ballad in G major with a richly chromatic harmonic language. The A sections move through extended ii-V-I progressions with smooth voice leading, while secondary dominants add color without disrupting the lyrical flow. The bridge provides harmonic contrast before the final A resolves home. Its relatively slow harmonic rhythm and expressive character make it ideal for developing a singing, legato approach to jazz improvisation.