Standards

It Could Happen To You chords & key

Key: E♭ major
Form: ABAC
Bars: 32
Groove: Medium swing
Time signature: 4/4

“It Could Happen To You” is a jazz standard by Jimmy Van-Heusen. It is usually played in E♭ major as a medium swing, and the 32-bar ABAC form has 4 sections. Harmonically it contains 3 major ii–V–I cadences and 4 minor ii–V–i, uses 15 different chords and moves between the key centres F minor, E♭ major and C minor. In this atlas it appears on 5 album tracks.

Chord changes

to key

Showing in: Concert (C) — E♭ major

E♭^maj7

E^dim7C^7♭9

F^m7

G♭^dim7D^7♭9

E♭^maj7

A♭^maj7

G^m7♭5

C^7♭9

F^m7

B♭⁷

E♭^maj7

D^m7♭5G^7♭9

C^m7

F⁷

F^m7B⁷

B♭⁷B♭⁷

E♭^maj7

E^dim7C^7♭9

F^m7

G♭^dim7D^7♭9

E♭^maj7

A♭^maj7

G^m7♭5

C^7♭9

F^m7

B♭⁷

E♭^maj7A♭⁷

G^m7♭5C^7♭9

F^m7

B♭⁷

E♭^maj7C^m7

F^m7B♭⁷

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

Harmonic analysis

3Major ii–V–I

4Minor ii–V–i

9ii–V moves

1Tritone substitutions

0Dominant chains

15Different chords

Most used chords

E♭^maj7×7
F^m7×7
B♭⁷×6
C^7♭9×5
G^m7♭5×3
E^dim7×2

Key centres reached by ii–V

F minor, E♭ major and C minor

Characteristics

ABAC song form

Recorded on these albums

1956	In a Romantic Mood Oscar Peterson · “It Could Happen to You”
1957	Close to You Frank Sinatra · “It Could Happen to You”
1958	Long Ago and Far Away Tony Bennett with Frank DeVol and His Orchestra · “It Could Happen to You”
1964	When Lights Are Low Tony Bennett with The Ralph Sharon Trio · “It Could Happen to You”
2026	Early Years - Selected Albums 1956-58 Johnny Mathis · “It Could Happen to You”

Historic 78 rpm recordings

It could happen to you Einar Bjørneboe · Johnny Burke · Jimmy v. Heusen archive.org ↗

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

Title	Composer	Key	Form	Groove
Alone Too Long 29%	Arthur Schwartz	G major	AABA · 32	Ballad
But Beautiful 27%	Jimmy Van-Heusen	G major	ABAC · 32	Ballad
Ballade 26%	Charlie Parker	F major	AABA · 32	Ballad
Blue Moon 26%	Richard Rodgers	E♭ major	AABA · 32	Medium swing
In Love In Vain 26%	Leo Robin Jerome Kern	B♭ major	ABAC · 32	Medium swing
Love Is The Sweetest Thing 26%	Ray Noble	D major	AABA · 32	Medium swing
Oh, Lady Be Good 26%	George Gershwin	G major	AABA · 32	Medium-up swing
Making Whoopee 25%	Walter Donaldson	G major	AABA · 32	Medium swing

Frequently asked questions

What key is It Could Happen To You in?

It Could Happen To You is usually played in E♭ major. For B♭ instruments that is F major, for E♭ instruments C major.

Who wrote It Could Happen To You?

It Could Happen To You was written by Jimmy Van-Heusen.

What is the form of It Could Happen To You?

It Could Happen To You has 4 sections (ABAC) with 32 bars in total.

How fast is It Could Happen To You played?

The usual groove is Medium swing.

What are the chord changes to It Could Happen To You?

The opening bars are Ebmaj7 | Edim7 C7b9 | Fm7 | Gbdim7 D7b9. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.