Along Came Betty in F

Benny Golson(1958)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
F♯7♭9♯5
E13
E7♯5
FMaj9

Chord Diagrams — Along Came Betty in F (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
Gm7
3frEADGBE111113
5frEADGBE11x4238frEADGBE11x23410frEADGBE111132
G♯m7
4frEADGBE111113
6frEADGBE11x4239frEADGBE11x23x11frEADGBE111132
C♯7
EADGBEx3241x
4frEADGBE111x346frEADGBE1114329frEADGBE111132
F♯7♭9
EADGBE2134
3frEADGBE11xx238frEADGBE11x23412frEADGBE3241xx
F7
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBE11x3248frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111xx2
EMaj7
EADGBE312
EADGBE333xx14frEADGBE111x437frEADGBE111324
D♯7
EADGBExx1324
6frEADGBE111x348frEADGBE111xx211frEADGBE111132
D♯m7
EADGBExx1423
6frEADGBE1111327frEADGBExx231411frEADGBE111114
Em7
EADGBE2
EADGBE114237frEADGBE1111328frEADGBExx2314
A7
EADGBEx23
EADGBE111x25frEADGBE1111327frEADGBEx1324
A9
2frEADGBE431
EADGBE11x325frEADGBE11132411frEADGBE2222x1
DMaj7
EADGBE111xx
2frEADGBE111x435frEADGBE1113247frEADGBE111xx4
F♯7♭9♯5
F♯ - A♯ - D - E - G
Bm7
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBExx23147frEADGBE1111139frEADGBE11x423
E13
EADGBE213
EADGBE1235frEADGBE13427frEADGBE111134
E7♯5
EADGBE412
2frEADGBExx14237frEADGBE11x43212frEADGBE1x234x
Am7
EADGBEx21
EADGBEx23145frEADGBE1111137frEADGBE11x423
D7♭9
2frEADGBExx431
4frEADGBE11x2345frEADGBE11x248frEADGBE3241xx
F♯m7♭5
EADGBE2341
4frEADGBE222xx19frEADGBEx1324x10frEADGBE11xx24
B7♭9
EADGBE11x234
5frEADGBE3241xx7frEADGBE111x238frEADGBE11xx23
C♯m7♭5
4frEADGBEx1324x
5frEADGBE11xx248frEADGBE2x341x11frEADGBE222xx1
Dm7
EADGBExx312
5frEADGBE1111326frEADGBExx231410frEADGBE111113
G7
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE1111325frEADGBE11x32410frEADGBE111134
C♯9
EADGBE222221
8frEADGBE3142xx9frEADGBE11132410frEADGBExx2143
Am7♭5
EADGBEx23x
4frEADGBE2x341x5frEADGBE1112347frEADGBE222xx1
D7
EADGBExx213
3frEADGBEx3241x5frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111132
Gm7♭5
EADGBE3xx421
EADGBE2x341x5frEADGBE222xx110frEADGBEx1324x
C7♯9
EADGBEx2134x
3frEADGBE11x328frEADGBE1113249frEADGBExx2134
FMaj9

Along Came Betty 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 G to G# (ascending half step), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to F (descending half step), F to E (descending half step), E to D# (descending half step), D# to D# (ascending unison), D# to E (ascending half step), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to A (ascending unison), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to F# (ascending major third), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to E (ascending unison), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to F# (ascending major third), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to C# (ascending whole step), C# to D (ascending half step), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C# (ascending tritone), C# to A (descending major third), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F (ascending 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 G by whole step.

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.

swing4/4 · 34 bars · Form: A

Chords: Gm7, G♯m7, C♯7, F♯7♭9, F7, EMaj7, D♯7, D♯m7, Em7, A7, A9, DMaj7, F♯7♭9♯5, Bm7, E13, E7♯5, Am7, D7♭9, F♯m7♭5, B7♭9, C♯m7♭5, Dm7, G7, C♯9, Am7♭5, D7, Gm7♭5, C7♯9, FMaj9.

Scales for Improvisation F bebop, F bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of F