{"id":19036,"date":"2026-03-12T20:05:31","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T19:05:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/?p=19036"},"modified":"2026-04-27T23:47:47","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T21:47:47","slug":"it-could-happen-to-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/blog\/it-could-happen-to-you\/","title":{"rendered":"It Could Happen to You (Herb Ellis)"},"content":{"rendered":"

It Could Happen to You is a popular jazz standard from the Great American Songbook. Written in 1943 by Jimmy Van Heusen, the song was featured in the film And the Angels Sing<\/em> and quickly became a favorite with jazz musicians.<\/p>\n

\"Ellis<\/p>\n

In this lesson, you’ll learn Herb Ellis’s chord melody arrangement of It Could Happen to You<\/em> from his debut album Ellis in Wonderland (1956).<\/p>\n

On this recording, Herb Ellis is backed by the rhythm section of Oscar Peterson<\/em>, with Ray Brown<\/em> on bass, Alvin Stoller<\/em> on drums, and Jimmy Giuffre<\/em> on clarinet.<\/p>\n

The arrangement is a great example of Ellis\u2019s tasteful and economical chord-melody style.<\/p>\n

Herb Ellis strums every chord with a plectrum, giving the part a light swing feel that blends well with the rhythm section.<\/p>\n

His guitar tone contains very little bass and focuses mostly on the midrange and treble, allowing the guitar to sit above the band without clashing with the bass line.<\/p>\n

 
\nThe first chord in the arrangement (Em7 voicing used as G major) can be a bit challenging for people with smaller hands.<\/p>\n

\"G6<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As an alternative, you can use this regular G triad or G6\/9 voicing, which requires less stretching.<\/p>\n

\"G<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

JGO+ members can download the PDF, backing track, and other lesson materials on the download page (click here to join JGO+<\/a>).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Dowload<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Recommended listening:<\/strong><\/div>\n
    \n
  • Johnny Smith – Johnny Smith Plays Jimmy Van Heusen<\/em> (1955)<\/li>\n
  • Herb Ellis (the arrangement in this lesson) – Ellis in Wonderland<\/em> (1956)<\/li>\n
  • Barney Kessel – The Poll Winners<\/em> (1957)<\/li>\n
  • Mundell Lowe – A Grand Night for Swinging<\/em> (1957)<\/li>\n
  • Frank Sinatra\u00a0– Close to You<\/em> (1957)<\/li>\n
  • The Miles Davis Quintet – Relaxin’ with The Miles Davis Quintet<\/em> (1958)<\/li>\n
  • Chet Baker – It Could Happen to You – Chet Baker Sings<\/em> (1958)<\/li>\n
  • Jimmy Smith (with Kenny Burrell) – Softly as a Summer Breeze<\/em> (1958)<\/li>\n
  • Julie London – Your Number Please…<\/em> (1959)<\/li>\n
  • Sonny Stitt – Stittsville<\/em> (1960)<\/li>\n
  • Bill Evans – Some Other Time (The Lost Session From The Black Forest)<\/em> (1968)<\/li>\n
  • Jimmy Raney – The Influence<\/em> (1975)<\/li>\n
  • John Pizzarelli – My Blue Heaven<\/em> (1990)<\/li>\n
  • Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock & Jack DeJohnette – Tokyo ’96<\/em> (1996)<\/li>\n
  • Larry Coryell – Cedars of Avalon<\/em> (2002)<\/li>\n
  • Diana Krall – From This Moment On<\/em> (2006)<\/li>\n
  • Chick Corea Trio – Trilogy<\/em> (2013)<\/li>\n
  • John Scofield – John Scofield<\/em> (2022)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

     <\/p>\n

    It Could Happen to You – Chord Melody Arrangement<\/h2>\n
    \n
    \n
    \n
    \n
    <\/div>\n

    \t\t\t