Alice In Wonderland in F

Sammy Fain(1951)waltzMed.
Do Re MiC D E
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Chord Diagrams — Alice In Wonderland in F (Guitar)

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Alice In Wonderland in F

Alice In Wonderland in F: 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: Gm7 – C7 – FMaj7 – A#Maj7 – Em7b5 – A7 – Dm7 – G#7 – Am7 – G7 – D – D7 – Bm7b5 – E7b9 – C#7.

Alice In Wonderland in F

F major is the gateway to barre chords. While F itself requires a full barre at fret 1, the remaining diatonic chords (C, Dm, Am, G, Bb) mix open and barre shapes. The open high E acts as Fmaj7's seventh, adding unexpected richness. F is a intermediate-level key on guitar because the open high E string is the major seventh of F, creating a lush Fmaj7 resonance even in basic shapes, but the F barre chord itself is the first big hurdle for beginners. This key mixes open and barre shapes, making it a good intermediate challenge that builds fretboard fluency.

Voice Leading

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

Scales for Improvisation

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

waltz3/4 · 144 bars · Form: AABA

Chords: Gm7, C7, FMaj7, A♯Maj7, Em7♭5, A7, Dm7, G♯7, Am7, G7, D, D7, Bm7♭5, E7♭9, C♯7.

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

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of F