How High the Moon — Chord Changes & Harmonic Analysis
- Composer:
- Morgan Lewis
- Year:
- 1940
- Key:
- G major
- Form:
- AB (32 bars)
- Style:
- Jazz Standard
- Tempo:
- 120–240 BPM
How High the Moon is a popular bebop standard composed by Morgan Lewis in 1940. This 32-bar AB form is characterized by rapid chord changes and frequent ii-V progressions, making it a favorite for bebop improvisers. The tune moves through multiple key centers, challenging players to navigate harmonic complexity at fast tempos.
About This Standard
Composed by Morgan Lewis with lyrics by Nancy Hamilton for the 1940 Broadway revue Two for the Show, How High the Moon became a bebop vehicle after Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie recorded "Ornithology" (1946) on its chord changes — making it one of the most famous contrafacts in jazz. The tune's rapid ii-V-I progressions across multiple keys made it an ideal bebop workout.
Notable recordings:
- Benny Goodman — (1940 original recording)
- Les Paul & Mary Ford — (1951 multi-track recording)
- Charlie Parker — Ornithology (1946, contrafact on these changes)
- Ella Fitzgerald — (various scat recordings)
Chord Changes
Notation
Harmonic Analysis
How High the Moon is a 32-bar AABA standard in G major with a bridge that modulates to Bb major before returning home. The A section establishes G major with clean ii-V-I motion (Am7→D7→Gmaj7→Ebm7 Ab7→Dbmaj7→Am7 D7→G). The bridge moves from Bb major through F major, C major, and G major via ii-V-I cycles. These rapid modulations — particularly the Db major section within the A — make it one of the harmonically busiest standards and a classic bebop vehicle.