Alice In Wonderland in A

Sammy Fain(1951)waltzMed.
Do Re MiC D E
A
A
B
A

Chord Diagrams — Alice In Wonderland in A (Guitar)

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Alice In Wonderland in A

Alice In Wonderland in A: a jazz waltz that transforms the Disney source material into flowing 3/4 bebop. Lydian opens up the major sections; Bebop Major and Dorian navigate the ii-V passages with swing feel. Changes: Bm7 – E7 – AMaj7 – DMaj7 – G#m7b5 – C#7 – F#m7 – C7 – C#m7 – B7 – F# – F#7 – D#m7b5 – G#7b9 – F7.

Alice In Wonderland in A

A major is a rock and blues cornerstone. The open A string delivers a strong root, while both E strings ring as the fifth. Classic A-D-E progressions practically play themselves with open cowboy chords. The open high E is the fifth, reinforcing power. A is a beginner-level key on guitar because the open A string is the root and the open E strings provide the fifth above and below, creating a massive low-end anchor. Beginners will find this key approachable since most chords use open voicings with minimal stretching.

Voice Leading

The bass line moves through B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G# (ascending tritone), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to C (ascending tritone), C to C# (ascending half step), C# to B (descending whole step), B to F# (descending perfect fourth), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to D# (descending minor third), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to F (descending minor third). 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 F to B by tritone.

Scales for Improvisation

A 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, A Mixolydian adds the flat seventh for an authentic blues-rock edge.

waltz3/4 · 144 bars · Form: AABA

Chords: Bm7, E7, AMaj7, DMaj7, G♯m7♭5, C♯7, F♯m7, C7, C♯m7, B7, F♯, F♯7, D♯m7♭5, G♯7♭9, F7.

Scales for Improvisation A major, A dorian, A lydian, A bebop major, A major pentatonic.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A