I Loves You, Porgy in F#

George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin / DuBose Heyward(1935)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
F♯Maj9
G♯m13
C♯11
E9♯11
G9♯11
G♯m6/B
A♯7♯5
D♯m7♭5/A
G♯aug7
C♯11
F♯Maj9
G♯m13
C♯9sus4
C♯13

Chord Diagrams — I Loves You, Porgy in F# (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
F♯Maj9
BMaj7
EADGBE111324
4frEADGBE111xx47frEADGBE1114239frEADGBE11333x
G♯m13
G♯ - B - D♯ - F♯ - A♯ - F
C♯11
EADGBEx213
4frEADGBE111x238frEADGBE1112349frEADGBE111123
F♯Maj7
EADGBE111423
4frEADGBE11x3336frEADGBE111x439frEADGBE111324
A♯m7
EADGBE111x32
EADGBExx23146frEADGBE1111138frEADGBE11x423
D♯9
EADGBExx132
5frEADGBE2222x110frEADGBE3142xx11frEADGBE111324
G♯m9
EADGBE11143
4frEADGBE1111347frEADGBE2213419frEADGBE2222x1
C♯9
EADGBE222221
8frEADGBE3142xx9frEADGBE11132410frEADGBExx2143
D9
4frEADGBE222221
7frEADGBEx12349frEADGBE11234x10frEADGBE111324
F♯
EADGBE111342
4frEADGBE11x2436frEADGBE1114329frEADGBE111234
A♯m6
EADGBEx13x24
3frEADGBEx2314x5frEADGBE2222x16frEADGBE111234
E9♯11
EADGBE12
3frEADGBE31426frEADGBE11x23411frEADGBE111234
F9
EADGBE111324
EADGBExx21437frEADGBE22222110frEADGBE1111x2
Aaug7
EADGBEx321
EADGBE11x235frEADGBE11x237frEADGBExx1423
G♯7♯11
3frEADGBE2x341x
6frEADGBExx123410frEADGBE11x23411frEADGBE111x23
C♯m6
EADGBE11x324
5frEADGBExx23148frEADGBE2x134x9frEADGBE111234
G9♯11
EADGBE111234
5frEADGBExx12349frEADGBE11x23410frEADGBE111x23
G♯9
EADGBE11234x
4frEADGBE1113245frEADGBExx214310frEADGBE222221
G♯m6/B
EADGBE2x134x
4frEADGBE1112346frEADGBE111x329frEADGBE11x324
A♯7♯5
EADGBE11x432
6frEADGBE1x234x8frEADGBExx142312frEADGBEx213x4
D♯m7♭5/A
7frEADGBE11xx24
EADGBE222xx16frEADGBEx1324x10frEADGBE2x341x
G♯aug7
4frEADGBE1x234
6frEADGBExx14239frEADGBEx324111frEADGBE11x432
C♯9sus4
C♯ - F♯ - G♯ - B - D♯
C♯13
EADGBEx4231
4frEADGBE1111347frEADGBE2223419frEADGBE111234
F♯6
EADGBE2x143x
EADGBE11x3244frEADGBE111x349frEADGBE3333x1

I Loves You, Porgy in F#

Key of F#

F# major pushes guitarists into full barre territory at fret 2 and beyond. No open chords exist naturally, but the key rewards advanced players with dark, powerful voicings. Common in metal and progressive rock where low tunings bring it closer to standard pitch. F# is a intermediate-advanced-level key on guitar because the open B string is the 4th scale degree and the open high E is the minor 7th, both usable as color tones. Expect to rely on barre chords throughout, which builds hand strength and unlocks the entire fretboard.

Voice Leading

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

Scales for Improvisation

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

swing4/4 · 25 bars · Form: A

Chords: F♯Maj9, BMaj7, G♯m13, C♯11, F♯Maj7, A♯m7, D♯9, G♯m9, C♯9, D9, F♯, A♯m6, E9♯11, F9, Aaug7, G♯7♯11, C♯m6, G9♯11, G♯9, G♯m6/B, A♯7♯5, D♯m7♭5/A, G♯aug7, C♯9sus4, C♯13, F♯6.

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

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