I Loves You, Porgy in F

George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin / DuBose Heyward(1935)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
FMaj9
Gm13
C11
D♯9♯11
G♯aug7
F♯9♯11
Gm6/A♯
A7♯5
Dm7♭5/G♯
Gaug7
C11
FMaj9
Gm13
C9sus4
C13

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

Display
FingerNoteDegree
FMaj9
A♯Maj7
EADGBE11x324
3frEADGBE111xx46frEADGBE1114238frEADGBE11333x
Gm13
G - B♭ - D - F - A - E
C11
EADGBE11x324
3frEADGBE1111x36frEADGBE11328frEADGBE111112
FMaj7
EADGBExx321
EADGBE1114233frEADGBE11x3338frEADGBE111324
Am7
EADGBEx21
EADGBEx23145frEADGBE1111137frEADGBE11x423
D9
4frEADGBE222221
7frEADGBEx12349frEADGBE11234x10frEADGBE111324
Gm9
EADGBE2341
3frEADGBE1111346frEADGBE11xx28frEADGBE2222x1
C9
EADGBE222221
7frEADGBE1123447frEADGBE1113249frEADGBExx2143
C♯9
EADGBE222221
8frEADGBE3142xx9frEADGBE11132410frEADGBExx2143
F
EADGBE111342
3frEADGBE11x2435frEADGBE1114328frEADGBE111234
Am6
EADGBEx2314
4frEADGBE2222x15frEADGBE1112347frEADGBE111x32
D♯9♯11
EADGBExx1234
5frEADGBE11x2346frEADGBE11x23x10frEADGBE111234
E9
EADGBE213
EADGBE113x426frEADGBE2222219frEADGBE11112
G♯aug7
4frEADGBE1x234
6frEADGBExx14239frEADGBEx324111frEADGBE11x432
G7♯11
EADGBE111234
5frEADGBExx12349frEADGBE11x23410frEADGBE111x23
Cm6
EADGBE11x324
3frEADGBEx13x247frEADGBE2222x18frEADGBE111234
F♯9♯11
EADGBE111234
4frEADGBExx12348frEADGBE11x2349frEADGBE111x23
G9
EADGBE31
EADGBE11234x3frEADGBE1113249frEADGBE222221
Gm6/A♯
EADGBE2222x1
3frEADGBE1112345frEADGBE111x328frEADGBE11x324
A7♯5
EADGBEx321
EADGBE11x235frEADGBE11x237frEADGBExx1423
Dm7♭5/G♯
EADGBE111xx
3frEADGBE11x3425frEADGBEx1324x8frEADGBEx1432
Gaug7
EADGBE4312
EADGBE1x234x5frEADGBExx142310frEADGBE11x432
C9sus4
C - F - G - B♭ - D
C13
2frEADGBE44x213
3frEADGBE1111346frEADGBE2223418frEADGBE111324
F6
EADGBE11x324
3frEADGBE111x346frEADGBEx4231x8frEADGBE113333

I Loves You, Porgy in F

Key of F

F major is the gateway to barre chords. While F itself requires a full barre at fret 1, the remaining diatonic chords (C, Dm, Am, G, Bb) mix open and barre shapes. The open high E acts as Fmaj7's seventh, adding unexpected richness. F is a intermediate-level key on guitar because the open high E string is the major seventh of F, creating a lush Fmaj7 resonance even in basic shapes, but the F barre chord itself is the first big hurdle for beginners. This key mixes open and barre shapes, making it a good intermediate challenge that builds fretboard fluency.

Voice Leading

The bass line moves through F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# 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 C# (ascending half step), C# to F (ascending major third), F to A (ascending major third), A to D# (ascending tritone), D# to E (ascending half step), E to G# (ascending major third), G# to G (descending half step), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F# (ascending tritone), F# 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: FMaj9, A♯Maj7, Gm13, C11, FMaj7, Am7, D9, Gm9, C9, C♯9, F, Am6, D♯9♯11, E9, G♯aug7, G7♯11, Cm6, F♯9♯11, G9, Gm6/A♯, A7♯5, Dm7♭5/G♯, Gaug7, C9sus4, C13, F6.

Scales for Improvisation F bebop, F bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of F