Taking A Chance On Love: Lead Sheet / Fake Book
Taking A Chance On Love Sheet Music Preview

Taking A Chance On Love: Lead Sheet / Fake Book

Item: 35-DS00411441
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$3.99
Description

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Additional Details
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Page Count: 1
SKU: 35-DS00411441

More about this title

About the Creator: Vernon Duke

Vernon Duke composed "Taking a Chance on Love" with lyricist John La Cey for the 1940 Broadway musical "Cabin in the Sky." Duke's gift for elegant melody and sophisticated harmonic language made him a sought-after composer for stage productions throughout the 1930s and 1940s. His work balanced accessibility with musical substance, a quality that has kept his songs in the jazz and cabaret repertoire for over eight decades.

The song became a standard through recordings by artists including Ethel Waters (who introduced it on stage) and later Billie Holiday. Duke's compositional skill ensured the tune would transcend its theatrical origins to become a fixture in jazz and popular music education.

Why we love this

This lead sheet captures one of Broadway's most enduring melodies in its cleanest form. Vocalists and keyboard players can dig into the harmonic sophistication without being bogged down by full piano accompaniment; jazz musicians will appreciate the space to interpret the changes. It's an excellent teaching tool for understanding how great American songwriting balances singability with harmonic interest.

What to expect

The tune radiates vintage Broadway warmth without feeling quaint. There's genuine emotional weight in the title concept, paired with a melody that sits naturally in the voice and moves with understated sophistication. The harmonic language suggests both optimism and wistfulness.

Who it's for

Pianists and singers working in jazz, cabaret, and popular music contexts will find this invaluable. Music educators teaching lead sheet reading, voice students building jazz repertoire, and keyboard players expanding their fakebook collection all benefit from having this essential standard in clean, reliable format.

How to get the most out of it

  • Treat the melody line as singable, not merely decorative. The phrase shapes lean toward legit vocal production even when approached from a jazz angle.
  • Explore the harmonic substitutions available in the progression. This song rewards reharmonization while remaining recognizable.
  • Let the rhythm section find its own pocket. A single line chart invites accompanists to voice chords and choose groove intentionally rather than following prescribed patterns.

How to use it

Pair this with other Vernon Duke standards or 1940s Broadway selections for a thematic vocal recital. It works equally well as a jazz combo feature, a duet between voice and piano, or as sight-reading material in theory classes exploring jazz lead sheets and harmonic function.

Skills your students will build

  • Reading and interpreting lead sheet notation
  • Identifying and voicing jazz chord extensions and alterations
  • Shaping vocal phrasing over changes with harmonic awareness
  • Accompanying from a single-line melody chart
  • Understanding the standard song form and its structural logic

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