Moon River

Harmonic Analysis Worksheet (RMA/HA)

Published: 29 Mar 2023 Updated: 29 Mar 2023Visits: 10Code: ULHA-YB-163

Category: Harmonic-AnalysisInstrument: Any Subjects: Theory • Progressions • Harmony • Analysis • RMA

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Moon River


Harmonic Analysis (RMA) Worksheet for the song: Moon River.

Moon River

Released: October 1961

Moon River Moon River is a song composed by Johnny Mercer (lyrics) and Henry Mancini (music) in 1961, for whom it won that year's Academy Award for Best Original Song. It was originally sung in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's by Audrey Hepburn, although it has been covered by many other artists. The song also won the 1962 Grammy Award for Record of the Year.

The song has been recorded by many other artists. It became the theme song for Andy Williams, who first recorded it in 1962 (and performed it at the Academy Awards ceremony that year). He sang the first eight bars of the song at the beginning of each episode of his eponymous television show and named his production company and venue in Branson, Missouri, after it; his autobiography is called "Moon River" and Me. Williams' version was never released as a single, but it charted as an LP track that he recorded for Columbia on a hit album of 1962, Moon River and Other Great Movie Themes. In 2022, Williams' rendition of the song was selected for preservation in the Library of Congress. (wikiwand) ·

Moon River is in the The Daily Ukulele 365 Songs for Better Living book.

Strum a different song every day with easy arrangements of 365 of your favorite songs in one big songbook! The Daily Ukulele features ukulele arrangements with melody, lyrics and uke chord grids and are in ukulele-friendly keys that are particularly suited for groups of one to one hundred to play and sing.

Chords

C Am F Bm7b5 E7 C7 Bb9 F#m7b5 B7 Em7 A7 Dm G7 Am6 F7

Theses and many other chords where covered in the Learn A Chord A Day series of lessons.

C Tuning Chords

Starting Melody Note and 1st Interval

  • Start on P5 ↓ P4.
  • INTERVALS: Root=note that begins a scale of the starting key; C is C, D is D, Am is a, Em is E, etc... m=minor; M=Major; P=Perfect; D=Diminished; A=Augmented. • ↑ is up/ascending; ↓ is down/descending;

    Harmonic Analysis (HA)

    A Harmonic Analysis (RMA/HA) and its worksheet are intended to show the function of the chords, the harmonic principles used, the keys and tonalities the song explores. And, can be used for scale selections and chord and scale substitutions.

    A Harmonic Analysis Worksheet is NOT intended to be a leadsheet and minimal roadmap information such repeats, fines, D.S., D.C., codas have been used in preparing the worksheets to somewhat mirror the leadsheet in the Daily Ukulele book..

    Sections, Verse, Chorus, 1st, 2nd Ending, turnbacks …

    The worksheets will show 1st, 2nd Ending, turnbacks, etc. as in indicated the Yellow Book. You should start to recognize that 1st endings typically always return to a previous or verse or section. With a 2nd ending, a transition to a different section, a or chorus. Harmonic Principles are used for these repeats and transitions.

    If turnbacks chord are not indication for the these 1st, 2nd Ending will indicate recommended chord(s) in parentheses or as an alternate harmony in Red . Typically the last measures or turnbacks will be a chord that resolves to and harmonically leads you to the next section or turning you back to the same section.

    Reference Key

    This is the key of the source leadsheet.

    • Moon River is in 3/4, Common Time and the Key of C .

    Harmonic Principles Used:

    Harmonic Analysis (HA) Worksheet

    Visit the Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection series of lessons for information on creating a Harmonic Analysis Worksheet

    A re-harmonization, in Red can be simple, sticking pretty close to the original composer's intentions or complex and a whole new set of chord changes.

    The

    Cmaj7
    Am7
    Fma7+11
    Em7
    C
    Am
    F
    C
    I
    VI
    IV
    I
    Dm13
    Cmaj7
    Bm7b5
    E7
    F
    C
    Bm7b5
    E7
    IV
    I
    II

    III7
    ( V of VI)

    B Loc: II of the III7

    E Mix-2-6

    Am7
    C7/G
    Fmaj7
    Bb7
    Am
    C7
    F
    Bb9
    VI

    I7
    ( V of IV)

    IV

    bVII7

    C Mix

    Bb Mix

    Am7
    Am7/G
    F#m7b5
    F9+11
    Em7
    A7b9
    Dm9
    G13
    Am
    F#m7b5
    F7
    Em7
    A7
    Dm
    G7
    VI
    #IVm7b5
    IV7
    III
    VI7
    II
    V

    F# Loc

    F Mix

    A Mix-2-6

    In the Yellow Book the next two lines are the same as the first two lines. These would typically be written as a repeat with a 1st. and 2nd. ending. See the Moon River Leadsheet for how it can be written.

    Cmaj7
    Am7
    Fmaj7
    Em7
    C
    Am
    F
    C
    I
    VI
    IV
    I
    Dm7
    Cmaj7
    Bm7b5
    E7
    F
    C
    Bm7b5
    E7
    IV
    I
    II

    III7
    ( V of VI)

    B Loc: II of the III7

    E Mix-2-6

    Am7
    Am/G
    F#m7b5
    Am
    Am
    Am6
    F7
    VI
    VI
    Im6*
    IV7

    Am6 is F#m7b5 and/or D9

    F Mix

    Em7
    Fma7
    Em7
    Fmaj7
    C
    F
    C
    F
    I
    IV
    I
    IV
    Em7
    Am7
    Dm7
    G7b9
    C
    Am
    Dm
    G7
    I
    VI
    II
    V
    C6
    Eb6
    Dm7
    Dbmaj7
    C
    Am
    Dm
    G7
    I
    VI
    II
    V
    C6
    C
    C
    I
    I

    Nashville Number System (NNS)

    Nashville Numbering System always uses four bars/measures per line, no bar lines, and default is each number of the number of beats per bar/measure based on the time signature. If multiple chords in same bar then they are underlined. It can be as simple as convert the Roman Numerals above to Arabic number.

    Scale Selection

    Once a Harmonic Analysis has been completed then scale selections can be made. These scale selections can be either vertical and horizontal choices. And, really only needed if you are going to take a solo or embellish the melody with added notes.

    Scale Abbreviation Legend

    Traditional Scales: Maj: Major (Ionian), Dim: Diminished, WT: Whole Tone, Har Min: Harmonic Minor,
    Contemporary Scales: Minor Pent: Minor Pentatonic, Pent: Major Pentatonic, Blues,
    Scale/Mode Names: Ion: Ionian (Major), Dor: Dorian (Minor), Phrygian: Phrygian, Lyd: Lydian, Mix: Mixolydian (Dominant), Aeol: Aeolian (Natural Minor), Loc: Locrian

    Checkout LESSONSeries : Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection or download the Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection book. And the QuickStart Series of Scale and Arpeggio books.

    RMA book cover QS1UKES book cover

    Performance Notes

    Any performance notes will show here.

    Links & Resources

    Sign-IN — it's FREE — to view, un-blur any additional content for this lesson.

    End of Lesson - Thanks, Hope You Enjoyed It!

    Related Lessons, Videos, Lesson Series, Songs, Books & Reference Charts, Resources & Assets, Workshops are below.

    Related Lessons

    Related Lessons for Moon River.

    ULHA-YB-index

    The Daily Ukulele a.k.a., The "Yellow" Book Song Index

    Updated: 12 Apr 2023

    Index of the songs in The Daily Ukulele book. 365 Songs for a Better Living.

    Related Lesson Series

    Related Lessons Series for Moon River.

    Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection

    Updated: 09 Jun 2023

    Harmonic Analysis (HA), also known as the study of chord relationships, is the method used to identify the harmonic role of chords within a chord progression or song. A chord progression refers to a sequence of chords, with each chord having a root note and belonging to a specific chord type. The function of a chord within a particular scale's tonality is determined by its relationship to that scale.

    The Daily Ukulele a.k.a., The "Yellow" Book

    Updated: 17 May 2023

    Individual Harmonic Analysis worksheets for the songs of The Daily Ukulele book.

    Related Songs

    Related Songs for Moon River.

    UL512

    Moon River

    Updated: 28 Aug 2023

    Moon River is a song composed by Johnny Mercer (lyrics) and Henry Mancini (music) in 1961, for whom it won that year's Academy Award for Best Original Song. It was originally sung in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's by Audrey Hepburn, although it has been covered by many other artists. The song also won the 1962 Grammy Award for Record of the Year.

    Related Books & Charts

    Related Books for Moon River.

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    Harmonic Analysis for Scale Selection and Chord Substitution

    Updated: 08 Jun 2024

    Harmonic Analysis is the understanding of the functional sequence of chords. It is the process used to analyze the harmonic structure of a progression, song or composition. This analysis is then used to make scale selections for improvisation and chord substitution.

    HL00240356

    The Daily Ukulele

    Updated: 16 Feb 2024

    Strum a different song every day with easy arrangements of 365 of your favorite songs in one big songbook! The Daily Ukulele features ukulele arrangements with melody, lyrics and uke chord grids and are in ukulele-friendly keys that are particularly suited for groups of one to one hundred to play and sing.

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    A Guide to Advanced Ukulele Chords - Volume I

    Updated: 13 Feb 2020

    Beyond learning basic Ukulele chords, most players struggle with advanced chords. Commonly called "jazz" chords, these more sophisticated voicings find a wide use in all forms of music. A Guide to Advanced Chords for Ukulele - presents a highly organized and efficient approach to the mysterious subject of advanced chords. Chord dictionaries are not the answer.

    AGCUKE1STD

    Exploring Jazz Chords on Ukulele

    Updated: 10 Jan 2020

    Exploring jazz chords using a variety of common chord progressions based on songs from the standard jazz repertoire. Core Chords are the basic set of chords needed to play a wide range of music, in a variety of styles. This set of chords includes basic open position chords, basic movable form chords and the core 4-part "jazz" chords.

    A Selection of Books & Reference Charts that are recommended for creating a solid foundation with your chosen instrument and music in general.

    Books

    Learning the Ukulele Fingerboard – C Tuning

    Finally, learn the names of the notes of the fingerboard.

    Six Secrets of Ukulele Fingering

    Learn the six fingering principles to navigating the ukulele fingerboard. Fingering is one of the most universal topics.

    Harmonic Analysis for Scale Selection and Chord Substitution

    Harmonic Analysis is the understanding of the functional sequence of chords. It is the process used to analyze the harmonic structure of a progression, song or composition.

    Ukulele – Reading Music Series – Primer

    Learn to read single note melodies in the first/open position is a lot easier than you might think.

    Daily Practice Material for the Contemporary Ukulele

    An organized collection of daily practice and reference material for the contemporary ukulele player for developing the vocabulary and knowledge necessary for single note playing.

    Checkout the Books for additional Handy, Dandy Reference Charts.

    Reference Charts

    Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for C Tuning, Low or High G - G C E A

    Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for C Tuning, Low or High G – G C E A

    Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for G Tuning, Low or High A – D G B E

    Ukulele Fingerboard Chart for G Tuning, Low or High A – D G B E

    Key Signatures — Circle of Fourths and Fifths – ANSI A & A4 sizes

    A handy reference chart of all 15 major and relative minor key signatures. US Letter 8.5 x 11 sized (ANSI-A) , A4

    Checkout the Books for additional Handy, Dandy Reference Charts.

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