Darn That Dream in A#

Jimmy Van Heusen / Eddie DeLange(1939)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B

Chord Diagrams — Darn That Dream in A# (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
A♯Maj7
EADGBE11x324
3frEADGBE111xx46frEADGBE1114238frEADGBE11333x
F♯7/C♯
4frEADGBE11x324
EADGBE1111327frEADGBEx3241x9frEADGBE111134
Cm7
EADGBEx2134x
3frEADGBE1111324frEADGBExx23148frEADGBE111113
D7♭5
EADGBE11xx2
3frEADGBExx24135frEADGBE11x23x9frEADGBE2x341x
D7
EADGBExx213
3frEADGBEx3241x5frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111132
Gm
EADGBE2134
3frEADGBE1111345frEADGBExx134210frEADGBE111342
Cm/D♯
EADGBEx3214
3frEADGBE1113425frEADGBE1142xx8frEADGBE111134
Dm7♭5
EADGBE111xx
3frEADGBE11x3425frEADGBEx1324x8frEADGBEx1432
G7
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE1111325frEADGBE11x32410frEADGBE111134
G♯7
EADGBE111xx2
4frEADGBE1111326frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBE111134
Dm7
EADGBExx312
5frEADGBE1111326frEADGBExx231410frEADGBE111113
C♯dim
EADGBEx41x23
4frEADGBEx1243x7frEADGBE31x42x11frEADGBExx12x3
B7
EADGBEx2134
EADGBE1111344frEADGBE111xx27frEADGBE111132
F7
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBE11x3248frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111xx2
B7♯9
EADGBEx2134x
5frEADGBE32417frEADGBE1144328frEADGBExx2134
C♯13
EADGBEx4231
4frEADGBE1111347frEADGBE2223419frEADGBE111234
F♯
EADGBE111342
4frEADGBE11x2436frEADGBE1114329frEADGBE111234
D♯m
EADGBExx1342
EADGBExx32416frEADGBE11134211frEADGBE111134
G♯m7
4frEADGBE111113
6frEADGBE11x4239frEADGBE11x23x11frEADGBE111132
C♯7
EADGBEx3241x
4frEADGBE111x346frEADGBE1114329frEADGBE111132
F♯Maj7/A♯
EADGBE111423
4frEADGBE11x3336frEADGBE111x439frEADGBE111324
Am6
EADGBEx2314
4frEADGBE2222x15frEADGBE1112347frEADGBE111x32
A♯m
EADGBE11x342
6frEADGBE1111346frEADGBE111xx38frEADGBExx1342
A♯mMaj7
EADGBE11x423
6frEADGBE1111328frEADGBE11x34210frEADGBE11x42x
A♯m7
EADGBE111x32
EADGBExx23146frEADGBE1111138frEADGBE11x423
F♯9
EADGBE111324
3frEADGBExx21438frEADGBE22222111frEADGBE1111x2
F9
EADGBE111324
EADGBExx21437frEADGBE22222110frEADGBE1111x2
Gm7
3frEADGBE111113
5frEADGBE11x4238frEADGBE11x23410frEADGBE111132
A♯6
EADGBE3333x1
5frEADGBE21346frEADGBE113x2410frEADGBEx4231x

Darn That Dream in A#

Key of A#

A# (Bb) major requires barre chords rooted at fret 1 on the A string or fret 6 on the E string. Despite the barre demands, it is a common key in funk, New Orleans R&B, and brass band music. The open D string can ring as the major third for added color. A# is a intermediate-level key on guitar because the open D string is the major 3rd of Bb, adding a bright color if allowed to ring. Expect to rely on barre chords throughout, which builds hand strength and unlocks the entire fretboard.

Voice Leading

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

Scales for Improvisation

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

swing4/4 · 26 bars · Form: AB

Chords: A♯Maj7, F♯7/C♯, Cm7, D7♭5, D7, Gm, Cm/D♯, Dm7♭5, G7, G♯7, Dm7, C♯dim, B7, F7, B7♯9, C♯13, F♯, D♯m, G♯m7, C♯7, F♯Maj7/A♯, Am6, A♯m, A♯mMaj7, A♯m7, F♯9, F9, Gm7, A♯6.

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

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