In A Sentimental Mood in F

In A Sentimental Mood in F

In a Sentimental Mood in F: Ellington's ballad moves between minor and major with aching beauty, favoring Dorian over minor chords and Melodic Minor over the tonic. Harmonic Minor colors the cadential V7 moments. Chords: Dm – DmMaj7 – Dm7 – Dm6 – Gm – GmMaj7 – Gm7 – A7 – D7 – F#7 – FMaj7 – C#Maj7 – A#m7 – D#m7 – G#7 – A#7 – D#7 – C7b9.

In A Sentimental Mood in 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 D to D (ascending unison), D to D (ascending unison), D to D (ascending unison), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to G (ascending unison), G to G (ascending unison), G to A (ascending whole step), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to F# (ascending major third), F# to F (descending half step), F to C# (descending major third), C# to A# (descending minor third), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to A# (ascending whole step), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to C (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 C to D by whole step.

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.