Free Jazz Standard Sheet Music Downloads

"How About You?" was written by composer Burton Lane and lyricist Ralph Freed for the 1941 MGM film Babes on Broadway, where it was performed by Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney. The song went on to become a beloved jazz standard.

The tune is a 32-bar AABA form, commonly played in C major. The lyric charmingly catalogs the singer's favorite things — "I like New York in June, how about you?" — creating an irresistible invitation to shared pleasures. The melody is buoyant and highly singable, with the A sections moving through diatonic harmony that gives the tune a bright, settled feel. The bridge provides a gentle harmonic shift toward the subdominant area, adding forward momentum without disrupting the song's easygoing character. Medium swing is the most typical tempo choice.

Judy Garland's original 1941 film performance is the essential starting point. In the jazz world, Frank Sinatra returned to the tune throughout his career, delivering polished, swinging interpretations that became closely associated with his artistry.