Bohemian Rhapsody in C#

Freddy Mercury / Queen(1975)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
C♯/F
G♯/D♯
F♯/C♯
G♯m/B
G♯/C
C♯/E
C♯/F
B/F♯
G♯m7/F♯
C♯/F
A♯m/F
E/C♭
E/B
D♯/A♯
C♯/F
C/E
C♯/F
D/F♯
C/E
C♯/F
D/F♯
F♯/A♯
F♯/A♯
F♯/C♯
F♯/C♯
C♯/F

Chord Diagrams — Bohemian Rhapsody in C# (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
C♯6
EADGBEx4231x
4frEADGBE3333x16frEADGBE1114239frEADGBE11x324
D♯7
EADGBExx1324
6frEADGBE111x348frEADGBE111xx211frEADGBE111132
G♯7
EADGBE111xx2
4frEADGBE1111326frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBE111134
D♯m7
EADGBExx1423
6frEADGBE1111327frEADGBExx231411frEADGBE111114
C♯
EADGBE11x432
4frEADGBE1112346frEADGBE1113249frEADGBE111342
A♯m
EADGBE11x342
6frEADGBE1111346frEADGBE111xx38frEADGBExx1342
C♯7
EADGBEx3241x
4frEADGBE111x346frEADGBE1114329frEADGBE111132
F♯
EADGBE111342
4frEADGBE11x2436frEADGBE1114329frEADGBE111234
D♯m
EADGBExx1342
EADGBExx32416frEADGBE11134211frEADGBE111134
C
EADGBEx321
3frEADGBE1112345frEADGBE111xx48frEADGBE111342
D
EADGBExx132
2frEADGBE1114325frEADGBE11123410frEADGBE111342
C♯/F
EADGBE11x432
4frEADGBE1112346frEADGBE1113249frEADGBE111342
G♯/D♯
6frEADGBE11x243
EADGBE11132x4frEADGBE1113428frEADGBE111432
Edim7
EADGBE123
EADGBExx13246frEADGBEx2314x11frEADGBE112x3x
G♯
EADGBE11132x
4frEADGBE1113426frEADGBE11x2438frEADGBE111432
F♯/C♯
4frEADGBE11x243
EADGBE1113426frEADGBE1114329frEADGBE111234
Daug
EADGBExx231
3frEADGBE11x32x7frEADGBE11432x10frEADGBE1x423x
G♯m/B
7frEADGBExx3241
4frEADGBE1111346frEADGBExx134211frEADGBE111342
G♯/C
8frEADGBE111432
EADGBE11132x4frEADGBE1113426frEADGBE11x243
C♯/E
EADGBE11x432
4frEADGBE1112346frEADGBE1113249frEADGBE111342
G♯m
4frEADGBE111134
6frEADGBExx13427frEADGBExx324111frEADGBE111342
Bm
EADGBE111342
7frEADGBE1111349frEADGBExx134210frEADGBExx3241
B/F♯
EADGBE111234
4frEADGBE111xx47frEADGBE1113429frEADGBE11x243
G♯m7/F♯
4frEADGBE111113
6frEADGBE11x4239frEADGBE11x23x11frEADGBE111132
F♯dim7
EADGBE112x3x
EADGBE1112344frEADGBExx13248frEADGBE111234
A♯m/F
EADGBE11x342
6frEADGBE1111346frEADGBE111xx38frEADGBExx1342
C♯m
EADGBEx4213x
4frEADGBE1113426frEADGBE1132x49frEADGBE111134
E/C♭
7frEADGBE111234
EADGBE2312frEADGBExx12434frEADGBE111432
E
EADGBE231
2frEADGBExx12434frEADGBE1114327frEADGBE111234
Cdim7
EADGBExx1324
EADGBE11x2347frEADGBE112x3x10frEADGBE11xx34
F
EADGBE111342
3frEADGBE11x2435frEADGBE1114328frEADGBE111234
B
EADGBE111234
4frEADGBE111xx47frEADGBE1113429frEADGBE11x243
E/B
7frEADGBE111234
EADGBE2312frEADGBExx12434frEADGBE111432
G
EADGBE213
3frEADGBE1113425frEADGBE11x2437frEADGBE111432
D♯/A♯
8frEADGBE111xx4
EADGBExx12433frEADGBE11x4326frEADGBE11x234
C/E
EADGBEx321
3frEADGBE1112345frEADGBE111xx48frEADGBE111342
D/F♯
2frEADGBE111432
EADGBExx1325frEADGBE11123410frEADGBE111342
F♯/A♯
6frEADGBE111432
EADGBE1113424frEADGBE11x2439frEADGBE111234
G♯m7
4frEADGBE111113
6frEADGBE11x4239frEADGBE11x23x11frEADGBE111132
Adim7
EADGBEx1324
4frEADGBE112x3x5frEADGBE1112347frEADGBE11x34
A7
EADGBEx23
EADGBE111x25frEADGBE1111327frEADGBEx1324
Dm
EADGBExx231
5frEADGBE1113426frEADGBEx4231x10frEADGBE111134
A
EADGBEx234
2frEADGBE111x45frEADGBE1113427frEADGBEx1243
C♯9
EADGBE222221
8frEADGBE3142xx9frEADGBE11132410frEADGBExx2143
A♯
EADGBE11x234
3frEADGBE11143x6frEADGBE1113428frEADGBE11x243
A♯7
EADGBE111x34
6frEADGBE1111328frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBEx3241x
B7
EADGBEx2134
EADGBE1111344frEADGBE111xx27frEADGBE111132
Bdim7
EADGBE11x234
EADGBExx13246frEADGBE3x142x7frEADGBE111234

Bohemian Rhapsody in C#

Key of C#

C# major (or Db) sits in barre chord territory across the fretboard. Every chord demands precise barring, but the payoff is a bright, crystalline sound a half step above C that cuts through a band mix. C# is a intermediate-advanced-level key on guitar because no open strings fall within the key naturally, so every chord requires full barre technique. Expect to rely on barre chords throughout, which builds hand strength and unlocks the entire fretboard.

Voice Leading

The bass line moves through C# to D# (ascending whole step), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to D# (descending perfect fourth), D# to C# (descending whole step), C# to A# (descending minor third), A# to C# (ascending minor third), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to D# (descending minor third), D# to C (descending minor third), C to D (ascending whole step), D to C# (descending half step), C# to G# (descending perfect fourth), G# to E (descending major third), E to G# (ascending major third), G# to F# (descending whole step), F# to D (descending major third), D to G# (ascending tritone), G# to G# (ascending unison), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to G# (descending perfect fourth), G# to B (ascending minor third), B to B (ascending unison), B to G# (descending minor third), G# to F# (descending whole step), F# to A# (ascending major third), A# to C# (ascending minor third), C# to E (ascending minor third), E to E (ascending unison), E to C (descending major third), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to B (ascending tritone), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to G (ascending minor third), G to D# (descending major third), D# to C (descending minor third), C to D (ascending whole step), D to F# (ascending major third), F# to G# (ascending whole step), G# to A (ascending half step), A to A (ascending unison), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to A (descending perfect fourth), A to C# (ascending major third), C# to A# (descending minor third), A# to A# (ascending unison), A# to B (ascending half step), B to B (ascending unison). 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 B to C# 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.

swing4/4 · 120 bars · Form: AB

Chords: C♯6, D♯7, G♯7, D♯m7, C♯, A♯m, C♯7, F♯, D♯m, C, D, C♯/F, G♯/D♯, Edim7, G♯, F♯/C♯, Daug, G♯m/B, G♯/C, C♯/E, G♯m, Bm, B/F♯, G♯m7/F♯, F♯dim7, A♯m/F, C♯m, E/C♭, E, Cdim7, F, B, E/B, G, D♯/A♯, C/E, D/F♯, F♯/A♯, G♯m7, Adim7, A7, Dm, A, C♯9, A♯, A♯7, B7, Bdim7.

Scales for Improvisation C# bebop, C# bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of C#