Easy Living in C

Ralph Rainger, Leo Robin()swingMed
Do Re MiC D E
A
A
B
A

Chord Diagrams — Easy Living in C (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
CMaj7
EADGBE231
3frEADGBE1113245frEADGBE111xx410frEADGBE333xx1
C♯dim7
EADGBExx1324
3frEADGBE11x2348frEADGBE112x3x11frEADGBExx1324
Dm7
EADGBExx312
5frEADGBE1111326frEADGBExx231410frEADGBE111113
D♯dim7
EADGBExx1324
5frEADGBE11x2347frEADGBExx132410frEADGBE112x3x
Cmaj7/a
EADGBE231
3frEADGBE1113245frEADGBE111xx410frEADGBE333xx1
Gm7
3frEADGBE111113
5frEADGBE11x4238frEADGBE11x23410frEADGBE111132
C7
EADGBEx3241
3frEADGBE1111345frEADGBE111xx28frEADGBE111132
FMaj7
EADGBExx321
EADGBE1114233frEADGBE11x3338frEADGBE111324
A♯7
EADGBE111x34
6frEADGBE1111328frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBEx3241x
Am7
EADGBEx21
EADGBEx23145frEADGBE1111137frEADGBE11x423
G7
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE1111325frEADGBE11x32410frEADGBE111134
E7♯5
EADGBE412
2frEADGBExx14237frEADGBE11x43212frEADGBE1x234x
A9
2frEADGBE431
EADGBE11x325frEADGBE11132411frEADGBE2222x1
D7♯5
EADGBExx412
4frEADGBEx213x45frEADGBE11x43210frEADGBE1x234x
G9
EADGBE31
EADGBE11234x3frEADGBE1113249frEADGBE222221
G7♭9
EADGBE11324
EADGBE111x234frEADGBE11xx239frEADGBE11x234
C
EADGBEx321
3frEADGBE1112345frEADGBE111xx48frEADGBE111342
F7
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBE11x3248frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111xx2
A♯m7
EADGBE111x32
EADGBExx23146frEADGBE1111138frEADGBE11x423
D♯7
EADGBExx1324
6frEADGBE111x348frEADGBE111xx211frEADGBE111132
G♯Maj7
4frEADGBE111423
6frEADGBE11x3339frEADGBEx3241x11frEADGBE111324
Fm7
EADGBE111113
3frEADGBExx14238frEADGBE1111329frEADGBExx2314
D♯7/C♯
EADGBExx1324
6frEADGBE111x348frEADGBE111xx211frEADGBE111132
Cm7
EADGBEx2134x
3frEADGBE1111324frEADGBExx23148frEADGBE111113
Fm7/D♯
EADGBE111113
3frEADGBExx14238frEADGBE1111329frEADGBExx2314
Dm7♭5
EADGBE111xx
3frEADGBE11x3425frEADGBEx1324x8frEADGBEx1432

Easy Living in C

Easy Living in 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 C# (ascending half step), C# to D (ascending half step), D to D# (ascending half step), D# to C (descending minor third), C to G (descending perfect fourth), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to A (descending half step), A to G (descending whole step), G to E (descending minor third), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to G (ascending unison), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to F (descending minor third), F to D# (descending whole step), D# to C (descending minor third), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to D (descending 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 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 · 41 bars · Form: AABA

Chords: CMaj7, C♯dim7, Dm7, D♯dim7, Cmaj7/a, Gm7, C7, FMaj7, A♯7, Am7, G7, E7♯5, A9, D7♯5, G9, G7♭9, C, F7, A♯m7, D♯7, G♯Maj7, Fm7, D♯7/C♯, Cm7, Fm7/D♯, Dm7♭5.

Scales for Improvisation C bebop, C bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of C