It Could Happen to You in G

Jimmy Van Heusen / Johnny Burke(1943)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A

Chord Diagrams — It Could Happen to You in G (Guitar)

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It Could Happen to You in G

Key of G

G major is the singer-songwriter's key. The open G, B, and D strings spell out the full G major triad with zero fretting. Add the open high E for a Gadd6 shimmer. Nearly every diatonic chord (Em, Am, C, D) has a comfortable open voicing. G is a beginner-level key on guitar because the open G, B, and D strings form a complete G major triad without fretting a single note, and the open low E adds a rich 6th color. Beginners will find this key approachable since most chords use open voicings with minimal stretching.

Voice Leading

The bass line moves through G to B (ascending major third), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to C# (ascending major third), C# to D# (ascending whole step), D# to C (descending minor third), C to E (ascending major third), E to F (ascending half step), F to G (ascending whole step), G to F# (descending half step), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to E (ascending unison), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to F (ascending minor third), F to C (descending perfect fourth). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. The root motion by larger intervals (fourths and fifths) gives each chord change a strong, decisive character. When the progression loops, the bass returns from C to G by perfect fourth.

Scales for Improvisation

G major pentatonic works because every note is either a chord tone or a safe passing tone — there are no avoid notes. For soloing, this means you can play freely without clashing. Over dominant seventh chords, G Mixolydian adds the flat seventh for an authentic blues-rock edge.

swing4/4 · 32 bars · Form: A

Chords: G, Bm7♭5, E7♭9, Am7, C♯m7♭5, D♯7♭9, C, E7, F7, GMaj7, F♯m7♭5, B7, Em7, EmMaj7, A7, D7, F, C7.

Scales for Improvisation G bebop, G bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of G