Darn That Dream in C

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

Chord Diagrams — Darn That Dream in C (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
CMaj7
EADGBE231
3frEADGBE1113245frEADGBE111xx410frEADGBE333xx1
G♯7/D♯
EADGBE111xx2
4frEADGBE1111326frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBE111134
Dm7
EADGBExx312
5frEADGBE1111326frEADGBExx231410frEADGBE111113
E7♭5
EADGBE124
EADGBExx12345frEADGBExx24137frEADGBE11x23x
E7
EADGBE21
5frEADGBEx3241x7frEADGBE1111349frEADGBE111xx2
Am
EADGBEx231
2frEADGBE444x15frEADGBE1111347frEADGBEx1342
Dm/F
6frEADGBEx4231x
EADGBExx2315frEADGBE11134210frEADGBE111134
Em7♭5
EADGBE33312
7frEADGBEx1324x8frEADGBE11xx2411frEADGBE2x341x
A7
EADGBEx23
EADGBE111x25frEADGBE1111327frEADGBEx1324
A♯7
EADGBE111x34
6frEADGBE1111328frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBEx3241x
Em7
EADGBE2
EADGBE114237frEADGBE1111328frEADGBExx2314
D♯dim
EADGBExx12x3
4frEADGBEx41x236frEADGBEx1243x9frEADGBE31x42x
C♯7
EADGBEx3241x
4frEADGBE111x346frEADGBE1114329frEADGBE111132
G7
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE1111325frEADGBE11x32410frEADGBE111134
C♯7♯9
EADGBEx3241
3frEADGBEx2134x8frEADGBE2222x19frEADGBE111324
D♯13
5frEADGBE44x213
6frEADGBE1111349frEADGBE1142311frEADGBE111234
G♯
EADGBE11132x
4frEADGBE1113426frEADGBE11x2438frEADGBE111432
Fm
EADGBE111134
3frEADGBExx13428frEADGBE11134210frEADGBE1142xx
A♯m7
EADGBE111x32
EADGBExx23146frEADGBE1111138frEADGBE11x423
D♯7
EADGBExx1324
6frEADGBE111x348frEADGBE111xx211frEADGBE111132
G♯Maj7/C
4frEADGBE111423
6frEADGBE11x3339frEADGBEx3241x11frEADGBE111324
Bm6
EADGBE2314
EADGBExx23146frEADGBE2x134x7frEADGBE111234
Cm
EADGBEx3214
3frEADGBE1113425frEADGBE1142xx8frEADGBE111134
CmMaj7
EADGBEx31x
3frEADGBE1114238frEADGBE11113210frEADGBExx1342
Cm7
EADGBEx2134x
3frEADGBE1111324frEADGBExx23148frEADGBE111113
G♯9
EADGBE11234x
4frEADGBE1113245frEADGBExx214310frEADGBE222221
G9
EADGBE31
EADGBE11234x3frEADGBE1113249frEADGBE222221
Am7
EADGBEx21
EADGBEx23145frEADGBE1111137frEADGBE11x423
C6
EADGBEx4231
3frEADGBE3333x17frEADGBE2x143x8frEADGBE11x324

Darn That Dream 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 C to G# (descending major third), G# to D (ascending tritone), D to E (ascending whole step), E to E (ascending unison), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to E (ascending whole step), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to A# (ascending half step), A# to E (ascending tritone), E to D# (descending half step), D# to C# (descending whole step), C# to G (ascending tritone), G to C# (ascending tritone), C# to D# (ascending whole step), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to F (descending minor third), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to B (ascending minor third), B to C (ascending half step), C to C (ascending unison), C to C (ascending unison), C to G# (descending major third), G# to G (descending half step), G to A (ascending whole step), A to C (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 C to C by unison.

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 · 26 bars · Form: AB

Chords: CMaj7, G♯7/D♯, Dm7, E7♭5, E7, Am, Dm/F, Em7♭5, A7, A♯7, Em7, D♯dim, C♯7, G7, C♯7♯9, D♯13, G♯, Fm, A♯m7, D♯7, G♯Maj7/C, Bm6, Cm, CmMaj7, Cm7, G♯9, G9, Am7, C6.

Scales for Improvisation C bebop, C bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of C