Standards

I'm Just A Lucky So-And-So chords & key

Key: G major
Form: AABA
Bars: 32
Groove: Medium swing
Time signature: 4/4

“I'm Just A Lucky So-And-So” is a jazz standard by Duke Ellington. It is usually played in G major as a medium swing, and the 32-bar AABA form has 4 sections. Harmonically it contains 5 major ii–V–I cadences and 1 minor ii–V–i, uses 13 different chords and moves between the key centres G major and E minor. In this atlas it appears on 8 album tracks.

Chord changes

to key

Showing in: Concert (C) — G major

G⁶

C^maj7

G⁶

D^m7G⁷

C⁷A⁷

A^m7D⁷

G⁶E^7♯9

A^m7D⁷

G⁶

D^m7G⁷

C⁷

G^maj7

C⁷

G^maj7

F♯^m7♭5B⁷

E^m7

A^m7

A^m7D⁷

G⁶

C^maj7

G⁶

D^m7G⁷

C⁷A⁷

A^m7D⁷

G⁶E^7♯9

A^m7D⁷

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

Harmonic analysis

5Major ii–V–I

1Minor ii–V–i

11ii–V moves

0Tritone substitutions

4Dominant chains

13Different chords

Most used chords

G⁶×9
A^m7×7
D⁷×6
C⁷×5
D^m7×4
G⁷×4

Key centres reached by ii–V

G major and E minor

Characteristics

AABA song form

Recorded on these albums

1957	Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book Ella Fitzgerald · “I’m Just a Lucky So and So”
1957	Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book, Volume 2 Ella Fitzgerald · “I'm Just a Lucky So and So”
1957	Tony Tony Bennett · “I’m Just a Lucky So and So”
1961	Recording Together for the First Time Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington · “I’m Just a Lucky So and So”
1962	At Carnegie Hall Recorded Live June 9, 1962 Tony Bennett with Ralph Sharon and His Orchestra · “I’m Just a Lucky So and So”
1978	“Fine and Mellow”: Ella Fitzgerald Jams Ella Fitzgerald · “I’m Just a Lucky So and So”
2005	All My Life Ella Fitzgerald · “I'm Just A Lucky So And So”
2016	Jazz at the Philharmonic: The Ella Fitzgerald Set Ella Fitzgerald · “I’m Just a Lucky So‐And‐So”

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

Title	Composer	Key	Form	Groove
Oh, Lady Be Good 30%	George Gershwin	G major	AABA · 32	Medium-up swing
Palo Alto 28%	Lee Konitz	F major	ABA · 32	Up-tempo swing
Só Danço Samba 25%	Antonio-Carlos Jobim	C major	AABA · 32	Bossa nova
Undecided 25%	Charlie Shavers	C major	AABA · 32	Medium-up swing
Billy Boy 23%	Traditional	C major	AABA · 56	Medium-up swing
Crazy Rhythm 23%	Wolfe-Kahn-Meyer	F major	AABA · 32	Up-tempo swing
Eclypso 23%	Tommy Flanagan	E♭ major	AABA · 32	Latin/swing
S'posin' 23%	Paul Denniker	B♭ major	ABAC · 32	Medium swing

Frequently asked questions

What key is I'm Just A Lucky So-And-So in?

I'm Just A Lucky So-And-So is usually played in G major. For B♭ instruments that is A major, for E♭ instruments E major.

Who wrote I'm Just A Lucky So-And-So?

I'm Just A Lucky So-And-So was written by Duke Ellington.

What is the form of I'm Just A Lucky So-And-So?

I'm Just A Lucky So-And-So has 4 sections (AABA) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is I'm Just A Lucky So-And-So played?

The usual groove is Medium swing.

What are the chord changes to I'm Just A Lucky So-And-So?

The opening bars are G6 | Cmaj7 | G6 | Dm7 G7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.