My One and Only Love — Chord Changes & Harmonic Analysis
- Composer:
- Guy Wood
- Year:
- 1953
- Key:
- C major
- Form:
- AABA (32 bars)
- Style:
- Ballad
- Tempo:
- 60–100 BPM
One of the most beautiful ballads in the jazz repertoire. Guy Wood's composition features lush harmonic progressions and a deeply romantic character, making it a favorite for intimate performances and vocal interpretations.
About This Standard
Composed by Guy Wood with lyrics by Robert Mellin in 1952, My One and Only Love became a jazz standard through John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman's definitive 1963 recording — an album of ballads widely considered one of the most romantically beautiful recordings in jazz. The song's warm harmonic language suits both vocal and instrumental interpretation.
Notable recordings:
- John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman — John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman (1963)
- Mel Tormé — (various recordings)
- Widely recorded — (jazz ballad standard)
Chord Changes
Notation
Harmonic Analysis
My One and Only Love is a 32-bar AABA ballad in C major with warm, accessible harmonic language. The A sections feature clear ii-V-I progressions in C major with some secondary dominants adding color — the harmony is lush without being complex. The bridge moves to a contrasting key area (A minor or F major) before the final A resolves home. The tune's gentle harmonic flow and deeply romantic character make it ideal for developing a singing, legato improvisational approach.