Do Re MiC D E

I Wished on the Moon

Ralph Rainger / Dorothy Parker(1935)4/4swing

Chord Diagrams — I Wished on the Moon in A (Guitar)

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I Wished on the Moon in A

Key of 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 F# (descending minor third), F# to C# (descending perfect fourth), C# to A (descending major third), A to G (descending whole step), G to B (ascending major third), B to A (descending whole step), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to D (descending whole step), D to E (ascending whole step), E to C# (descending minor third), C# to D (ascending half step), D to D (ascending unison), D to A# (descending major third), A# to B (ascending half step). 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 B to B by unison.

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.

swing4/4 · 33 bars · Form: A

Chords: Bm7♭5, E7, A, F♯7, C♯m7, Adim, G7, Baug7, A7, E9, DMaj7, Eaug, C♯m7♭5, Dm, D, A♯dim7, Bm7.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop, A bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A