How to practice Cry Me a River with play-along tracks?

Use the play-along backing track above to practice Cry Me a River 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 Cry Me a River?

For soloing over Cry Me a River, recommended scales include: bebop minor, bebop. Use arpeggio patterns over each chord to create melodic lines that follow the harmony of this jazz tune.

Who composed Cry Me a River?

Cry Me a River was composed by Arthur Hamilton in 1953. It is a swing standard in 4/4 time. The original key is C; this page shows it transposed to C#.

What key is Cry Me a River in?

The original key of Cry Me a River is C. The form is AB with 25 bars. This page shows the chart transposed to C#.

What scales work for improvising over Cry Me a River?

Recommended scales for Cry Me a River in C#: bebop minor, bebop. 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.

Cry Me a River in C#

Arthur Hamilton(1953)swing

Do Re MiC D E

BPM: 120

Chord Diagrams — Cry Me a River in C# (Guitar)

Display

FingerNoteDegree

Chord Voicings Closest Voicing

C♯m♯5

Cry Me a River 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 C# (ascending unison), C# to C# (ascending unison), C# to C# (ascending unison), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to D# (descending half step), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to A# (ascending major third), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to E (descending major third), E to G# (ascending major third), G# to D# (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 D# 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 · 25 bars · Form: AB

Chords: C♯m, C♯m♯5, C♯m6, C♯m7, F♯m7, B7, EMaj7, D♯m7♭5, G♯7, C♯7♭9, F♯7, A♯m7♭5, D♯7, G♯m7, E7, G♯Maj7, D♯m7.

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

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