How to practice Blood Count with play-along tracks?

Use the play-along backing track above to practice Blood Count in the key of C. Listen to the audio with bass, piano, and drums, start by playing the melody, then practice improvisation and soloing over the chord changes.

What scales to use for soloing over Blood Count?

For soloing over Blood Count, recommended scales include: bebop, bebop major. Use arpeggio patterns over each chord to create melodic lines that follow the harmony of this jazz tune.

Who composed Blood Count?

Blood Count was composed by Strayhorn Billy. It is a ballad standard in 4/4 time. The original key is D; this page shows it transposed to C.

What key is Blood Count in?

The original key of Blood Count is D. The form is AABAC with 42 bars. This page shows the chart transposed to C.

What scales work for improvising over Blood Count?

Recommended scales for Blood Count in C: bebop, bebop major. Scales and arpeggios update in real-time as each chord plays, with context-aware analysis (e.g., Phrygian Dominant over secondary dominants).

How does the interactive backing track work?

The backing track plays with realistic walking bass, drum patterns, and voice-led chord voicings. Scales and arpeggios update in real-time as each chord plays. You can limit the fretboard zone for close-proximity voicings, toggle a reference melody, loop any section, and choose between multiple sound presets. Works for guitar, piano, bass, ukulele, and 7 more instruments.

Can I edit the chord chart?

Yes. You can modify the structure, chords, and arrangement of any standard to match your preferred version or create your own reharmonization.

Do Re MiC D E

Blood Count

Strayhorn Billy4/4ballad

BPM: 120

Chord Diagrams — Blood Count in C (Guitar)

Display

FingerNoteDegree

Chord Voicings Closest Voicing

Starting fret

Open123456789101112

D♯7♯11

G♯7♯9

C♯7♯9♯11

C♯ - F - G♯ - B - E - G

Cm♯5

Cmaj7♯5

G7sus4

D♯/A

D/A

C♯/A

D♯/D

D/D

C♯/D

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Blood Count in C

Key of C

With no sharps or flats, C major is the theoretical home base on guitar. The open G, B, and high E strings all belong to the C major chord, creating natural sustain. C is a beginner-level key on guitar because the open B and high E strings ring within the scale, and every basic chord uses familiar open shapes. Beginners will find this key approachable since most chords use open voicings with minimal stretching.

Voice Leading

The bass line moves through D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to G# (descending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to C (descending half step), C to C (ascending unison), C to C (ascending unison), C to G (descending perfect fourth), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to G (descending perfect fourth), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to C (ascending unison), C to C (ascending unison), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to F (ascending unison), F to F (ascending unison), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to D (descending half step), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to G# (ascending half step), G# to A (ascending half step), A to A# (ascending half step), A# to E (ascending tritone), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to G (descending whole step), G to D# (descending major third), D# to D (descending half step), D to C# (descending half step), C# to D# (ascending whole step), D# to D (descending half step), D to C# (descending half step). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. The predominantly stepwise bass motion creates smooth, connected voice leading. When the progression loops, the bass returns from C# to D# by whole step.

Scales for Improvisation

C 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, C Mixolydian adds the flat seventh for an authentic blues-rock edge.

ballad4/4 · 42 bars · Form: AABAC

Chords: D♯7♯11, G♯7♯9, C♯7♯9♯11, G♯m7, C♯7, Cm, Cm♯5, Cm6, Gm7, C7, G7, Cmaj7, Cmaj7♯5, C6, Fmaj7, Fm6, Fm7, A♯7, D♯maj7, D7, G7♯11, G♯7♯11, A7♯11, A♯7♯11, Em7, Am7, G7sus4, D♯/A, D/A, C♯/A, D♯/D, D/D, C♯/D.

Scales for Improvisation C bebop, C bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of C

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