About A Quarter To Nine in F

Harry Warren / Al Dubin(1935)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
G♯/D♯
A♯m7/D♯
A♯m6/C♯
G♯7/D♯
Fdim/D
G♯7/D♯
Fdim/G♯
C♯/F
Fm/D
C♯/F
G♯7/D♯
Fdim/D
G♯7/D♯

Chord Diagrams — About A Quarter To Nine in F (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
Fm
EADGBE111134
3frEADGBExx13428frEADGBE11134210frEADGBE1142xx
C7
EADGBEx3241
3frEADGBE1111345frEADGBE111xx28frEADGBE111132
A♯m
EADGBE11x342
6frEADGBE1111346frEADGBE111xx38frEADGBExx1342
A♯m7♭5
EADGBEx1324x
EADGBE11xx245frEADGBE2x341x8frEADGBE222xx1
G♯/D♯
6frEADGBE11x243
EADGBE11132x4frEADGBE1113428frEADGBE111432
A♯m7/D♯
EADGBE111x32
EADGBExx23146frEADGBE1111138frEADGBE11x423
D♯7
EADGBExx1324
6frEADGBE111x348frEADGBE111xx211frEADGBE111132
G♯
EADGBE11132x
4frEADGBE1113426frEADGBE11x2438frEADGBE111432
A♯m6/C♯
3frEADGBEx2314x
EADGBEx13x245frEADGBE2222x16frEADGBE111234
Caug
EADGBE11x32x
3frEADGBEx1423x5frEADGBE11432x8frEADGBExx4231
G7
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE1111325frEADGBE11x32410frEADGBE111134
Gm7♭5
EADGBE3xx421
EADGBE2x341x5frEADGBE222xx110frEADGBEx1324x
G♯7
EADGBE111xx2
4frEADGBE1111326frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBE111134
C♯
EADGBE11x432
4frEADGBE1112346frEADGBE1113249frEADGBE111342
D♯m7
EADGBExx1423
6frEADGBE1111327frEADGBExx231411frEADGBE111114
Edim
EADGBExx12x3
5frEADGBEx41x237frEADGBEx1243x10frEADGBE31x42x
G♯7/D♯
EADGBE111xx2
4frEADGBE1111326frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBE111134
Fdim/D
EADGBExx12x3
6frEADGBEx41x238frEADGBEx1243x11frEADGBE31x42x
Fdim/G♯
EADGBExx12x3
6frEADGBEx41x238frEADGBEx1243x11frEADGBE31x42x
C♯/F
EADGBE11x432
4frEADGBE1112346frEADGBE1113249frEADGBE111342
E7
EADGBE21
5frEADGBEx3241x7frEADGBE1111349frEADGBE111xx2
A
EADGBEx234
2frEADGBE111x45frEADGBE1113427frEADGBEx1243
F♯m
EADGBE111134
4frEADGBE11x3425frEADGBExx32419frEADGBE111342
Fm/D
EADGBE111134
3frEADGBExx13428frEADGBE11134210frEADGBE1142xx
Cm
EADGBEx3214
3frEADGBE1113425frEADGBE1142xx8frEADGBE111134
Cm7
EADGBEx2134x
3frEADGBE1111324frEADGBExx23148frEADGBE111113
F7
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBE11x3248frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111xx2
A♯7
EADGBE111x34
6frEADGBE1111328frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBEx3241x
Fdim
EADGBExx12x3
6frEADGBEx41x238frEADGBEx1243x11frEADGBE31x42x

About A Quarter To Nine in F

Key of F

F major is the gateway to barre chords. While F itself requires a full barre at fret 1, the remaining diatonic chords (C, Dm, Am, G, Bb) mix open and barre shapes. The open high E acts as Fmaj7's seventh, adding unexpected richness. F is a intermediate-level key on guitar because the open high E string is the major seventh of F, creating a lush Fmaj7 resonance even in basic shapes, but the F barre chord itself is the first big hurdle for beginners. This key mixes open and barre shapes, making it a good intermediate challenge that builds fretboard fluency.

Voice Leading

The bass line moves through F to C (descending perfect fourth), C to A# (descending whole step), A# to A# (ascending unison), A# to G# (descending whole step), G# to A# (ascending whole step), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to A# (ascending whole step), A# to C (ascending whole step), C to G (descending perfect fourth), G to G (ascending unison), G to G# (ascending half step), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to D# (ascending whole step), D# to E (ascending half step), E to G# (ascending major third), G# to F (descending minor third), F to F (ascending unison), F to C# (descending major third), C# to E (ascending minor third), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to F# (descending minor third), F# to F (descending half step), F to C (descending perfect fourth), C to C (ascending unison), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to F (descending perfect fourth). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. The root motion by larger intervals (fourths and fifths) gives each chord change a strong, decisive character. When the progression loops, the bass returns from F to F by unison.

Scales for Improvisation

F major pentatonic works because every note is either a chord tone or a safe passing tone — there are no avoid notes. For soloing, this means you can play freely without clashing. Over dominant seventh chords, F Mixolydian adds the flat seventh for an authentic blues-rock edge.

swing2/2 · 41 bars · Form: AB

Chords: Fm, C7, A♯m, A♯m7♭5, G♯/D♯, A♯m7/D♯, D♯7, G♯, A♯m6/C♯, Caug, G7, Gm7♭5, G♯7, C♯, D♯m7, Edim, G♯7/D♯, Fdim/D, Fdim/G♯, C♯/F, E7, A, F♯m, Fm/D, Cm, Cm7, F7, A♯7, Fdim.

Scales for Improvisation F bebop minor, F bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of F