Music Theory Lessons
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by Music Theory Lessons

Jazz lead sheet · Advanced

Stella by Starlight

A long, winding ballad form packed with ii–Vs, minor ii–Vs and surprising key moves.

Composer
Victor Young
Form
ABCD, 32 bars
Key
B♭ major
Style
Ballad
Length
32 bars
View
Show
Practice

B♭ majorConcert pitchABCD, 32 bars

AD minorE♭ major
iiø7E Locrian
V7A Phryg. dom.
vi7C Dorian
V7/VF Mixolydian
B♭ major
ii7F Dorian
V7B♭ Mixolydian
Imaj7E♭ Ionian
♭VII7A♭ Lydian ♭7
BD minorF major
Imaj7B♭ Ionian
iiø7E Locrian
V7A Phryg. dom.
i7D Dorian
iv7B♭ Dorian
♭VII7E♭ Lydian ♭7
D minorG minor
Imaj7F Ionian
iiø7E Locrian
V7A Phryg. dom.
iiø7A Locrian
V7D Phryg. dom.
CC minor
V7G Phryg. dom.
V7G Phryg. dom.
i7C Dorian
i7C Dorian
B♭ major
♭VII7A♭ Lydian ♭7
♭VII7A♭ Lydian ♭7
Imaj7B♭ Ionian
Imaj7B♭ Ionian
DD minorC minor
iiø7E Locrian
V7A Phryg. dom.
iiø7D Locrian
V7G Phryg. dom.
B♭ major
iiø7C Locrian
V7F Mixolydian
Imaj7B♭ Ionian
Imaj7B♭ Ionian

For students

What to notice

  • The opening Em7♭5–A7 sounds like a minor ii–V to D minor, but resolves to Cm7, a deceptive start.
  • Most of the tune moves in ii–Vs that never stay long. Bracket them to see the road map.
  • The last eight bars descend through minor ii–Vs (Em7♭5–A7, Dm7♭5–G7, Cm7♭5–F7) to finish on B♭.

Practice plan

Three steps to improvising

  1. Practise each 4-bar phrase alone, then join them.
  2. Play guide tones through bars 1–8 and circle every half-step move.
  3. Use the scale view to compare Locrian and Locrian ♮2 on the half-diminished chords.

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.