Jazz lead sheet · Intermediate
Fly Me to the Moon
Root movement by 5ths through the whole key, the clearest circle-of-fifths progression in the repertoire.
- Composer
- Bart Howard
- Form
- ABAC, 32 bars
- Key
- C major
- Style
- Swing
- Length
- 32 bars
A1C major
vi7A Aeolian
ii7D Dorian
V7G Mixolydian
Imaj7C Ionian
V7/IVC Mixolydian
A minor
IVmaj7F Lydian
iiø7B Locrian
V7E Phryg. dom.
i7A Dorian
V7/iiA Phryg. dom.
B
ii7D Dorian
V7G Mixolydian
Imaj7C Ionian
vi7A Aeolian
A minor
ii7D Dorian
V7G Mixolydian
Imaj7C Ionian
iiø7B Locrian
V7E Phryg. dom.
A2C major
vi7A Aeolian
ii7D Dorian
V7G Mixolydian
Imaj7C Ionian
V7/IVC Mixolydian
A minor
IVmaj7F Lydian
iiø7B Locrian
V7E Phryg. dom.
i7A Dorian
V7/iiA Phryg. dom.
C
ii7D Dorian
V7G Mixolydian
E Dorian
V7/iiA Phryg. dom.
ii7D Dorian
A minor
V7G Mixolydian
I6C Ionian
iiø7B Locrian
V7E Phryg. dom.
For students
What to notice
- Bars 1–7 walk the circle of fifths: A → D → G → C → F → B → E. Every root falls a 5th.
- Bm7♭5–E7–Am7 is a minor ii–V–i into A minor, the relative minor.
- C7 and A7 are secondary dominants: C7 points to F (IV) and A7 points to Dm (ii).
Practice plan
Three steps to improvising
- Say each root while the backing plays, then play the roots in 5ths.
- Guide tones through bars 1–8: the 7th of each chord falls a half step to the next 3rd.
- Improvise with C major, then add G♯ over E7 to outline the minor ii–V.
For teachers
Using this chart in class
- Project the chart with Play along running and loop one section while students find the guide tones.
- Choose Practice → Name the numerals for a whole-class quiz: students vote, then reveal the explanation.
- Mixed ensemble? Print the worksheet once per transposition: B♭, E♭, F and bass clef parts all line up bar for bar.
- Share a link: the key, instrument and view you choose are saved in the address bar.
Chord changes are common performance versions written out by Music Theory Lessons. No melodies or lyrics are reproduced. Names of songs and composers are used only to identify each tune.