Standards

Alice In Wonderland chords & key

Key
C major
Form
AAB
Bars
48
Groove
Jazz waltz
Time signature
3/4

“Alice In Wonderland” is a jazz standard by Sammy Fain. Most bands play it in C major, jazz waltz; the tune runs 48 bars in AAB form. Harmonically it contains 4 major ii–V–I cadences and 5 minor ii–V–i, uses 13 different chords and moves between the key centres C major, A minor, D minor and E minor. In this atlas it appears on 24 album tracks.

Chord changes

Showing in: Concert (C) — C major

A
Dm7
G7
Cmaj7
Fmaj7
Bm7♭5
E7♭9
Am7
E♭7♯11
Dm7
G7
Em7
Am7
Dm7
G7
1.
Em7
A7
2.
Cmaj7
Cmaj7
B
D7
G7
Em7
Am7
Dm7
G7
Cmaj7
Fmaj7
G♭m7♭5
B7♭9
Em7
A7
Dm7
A7
Dm7
G7

Changes as commonly played (concert pitch). Your band's version may differ.

Harmonic analysis

4Major ii–V–I
5Minor ii–V–i
13ii–V moves
2Tritone substitutions
1Dominant chains
13Different chords

Most used chords

  • Dm7×9
  • G7×9
  • Cmaj7×5
  • Am7×5
  • Em7×5
  • Fmaj7×3

Key centres reached by ii–V

C major, A minor, D minor and E minor

Recorded on these albums

1952 The Dave Brubeck Quartet
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
1957 Dave Digs Disney
The Dave Brubeck Quartet · “Alice in Wonderland”
1963 1963’s Early Hits
Lawrence Welk · “Alice in Wonderland”
1964 The Wonderful World of Make Believe
Johnny Mathis · “Alice in Wonderland”
1968 Exclusively for My Friends - Vol. III: The Way I Really Play
Oscar Peterson · “Alice in Wonderland”
1976 1975: The Duets
Dave Brubeck & Paul Desmond · “Alice in Wonderland”
1980 Just the Way You Are
Rune Gustafsson / Niels‐Henning Ørsted Pedersen · “Alice in Wonderland”
1984 More From The Vanguard
Bill Evans
1985 The Complete Live at the Village Vanguard 1961
Bill Evans · “Alice in Wonderland”
1986 Emergence
Miroslav Vitouš · “Alice in Wonderland”
1986 Current Events
John Abercrombie, Marc Johnson & Peter Erskine · “Alice in Wonderland”
1989 John Abercrombie, Marc Johnson & Peter Erskine
John Abercrombie, Marc Johnson & Peter Erskine · “Alice in Wonderland”
1990 Stardust
The Dave Brubeck Quartet feat. Paul Desmond · “Alice in Wonderland”
1992 Pure Imagination
Michael Feinstein · “"Alice in Wonderland" Medley: Alice in Wonderland / I'm Late / The Unbirthday Song”
1995 Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz
Marian McPartland with guest Jack DeJohnette · “Alice in Wonderland”
1996 The Secret Sessions
Bill Evans · “Alice in Wonderland”
1996 Loved Ones
Ellis & Branford Marsalis · “Alice in Wonderland”
2002 Complete Jazz at Storyville
Paul Desmond · “Alice in Wonderland”
2006 Witch’s Scream
John Tchicai, Reggie Workman and Andrew Cyrille · “Alice in Wonderland”
2008 MPS Trio Sessions
George Shearing · “Alice in Wonderland”
2010 Jazz Manifesto: Time Out / Gone with the Wind
Dave Brubeck · “Alice in Wonderland”
2012 Further Explorations
Chick Corea, Eddie Gomez & Paul Motian · “Alice in Wonderland”
2013 Trilogy
Chick Corea Trio
— Yesterdays
John Abercrombie & Don Thompson

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

TitleComposerKeyFormGroove
Fly Me To The Moon 31% Bart Howard C major AB · 32 Medium swing
In Love In Vain 27% Leo Robin Jerome Kern B♭ major ABAC · 32 Medium swing
Bossa Antigua 26% Paul Desmond A♭ major ABCA · 32 Bossa nova
A Fine Romance 25% Jerome Kern C major ABAC · 32 Medium swing
My One And Only Love 25% Wood-Mellin C major AABA · 32 Ballad
I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face 24% Frederick Loewe E♭ major AB · 20 Ballad
Too Young To Go Steady 24% Jimmy McHugh F major AABA · 32 Ballad
Line For Lyons 23% Gerry Mulligan G major AABA · 32 Medium swing

Frequently asked questions

What key is Alice In Wonderland in?

Alice In Wonderland is usually played in C major. For B♭ instruments that is D major, for E♭ instruments A major.

Who wrote Alice In Wonderland?

Alice In Wonderland was written by Sammy Fain.

What is the form of Alice In Wonderland?

Alice In Wonderland has 3 sections (AAB) with 48 bars in total.

How fast is Alice In Wonderland played?

The usual groove is Jazz waltz.

What are the chord changes to Alice In Wonderland?

The opening bars are Dm7 | G7 | Cmaj7 | Fmaj7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.