In a Sentimental Mood in C#

Duke Ellington, Irvin Mills, Manny Kurtz()swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
Aaug/F♯
G♯7♯5
E69
G♯7♯5
E69
G13
C/E
D♯13
B7sus4
G♯7♯5
Eaug/G♯
Aaug/F♯
G♯7♯5
E69

Chord Diagrams — In a Sentimental Mood in C# (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
C♯m
EADGBEx4213x
4frEADGBE1113426frEADGBE1132x49frEADGBE111134
C♯mMaj7
EADGBE11x42x
4frEADGBE1114239frEADGBE11113211frEADGBE11x342
C♯m7
4frEADGBE111x32
5frEADGBExx23149frEADGBE11111411frEADGBExx1423
C♯m6
EADGBE11x324
5frEADGBExx23148frEADGBE2x134x9frEADGBE111234
F♯m7
EADGBE111113
4frEADGBExx14239frEADGBE11113210frEADGBExx2314
Aaug/F♯
EADGBEx4231
2frEADGBE11432x5frEADGBE11x42310frEADGBE11x32x
F♯m6
EADGBE2222x1
4frEADGBE111x327frEADGBE11x3248frEADGBEx2413x
G♯7♯5
4frEADGBE1x234
6frEADGBExx14239frEADGBEx324111frEADGBE11x432
G♯m7
4frEADGBE111113
6frEADGBE11x4239frEADGBE11x23x11frEADGBE111132
C♯9
EADGBE222221
8frEADGBE3142xx9frEADGBE11132410frEADGBExx2143
B7♭9
EADGBE11x234
5frEADGBE3241xx7frEADGBE111x238frEADGBE11xx23
E69
EADGBE22221
6frEADGBE11x2349frEADGBE11111x11frEADGBE11134
D♯m7
EADGBExx1423
6frEADGBE1111327frEADGBExx231411frEADGBE111114
Dm9
EADGBE132
3frEADGBE2222x15frEADGBEx142310frEADGBE111134
G13
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE11x2343frEADGBE1113249frEADGBE222x14
CMaj7
EADGBE231
3frEADGBE1113245frEADGBE111xx410frEADGBE333xx1
Am7
EADGBEx21
EADGBEx23145frEADGBE1111137frEADGBE11x423
G7
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE1111325frEADGBE11x32410frEADGBE111134
FMaj7
EADGBExx321
EADGBE1114233frEADGBE11x3338frEADGBE111324
C/E
EADGBEx321
3frEADGBE1112345frEADGBE111xx48frEADGBE111342
D♯13
5frEADGBE44x213
6frEADGBE1111349frEADGBE1142311frEADGBE111234
Dm7
EADGBExx312
5frEADGBE1111326frEADGBExx231410frEADGBE111113
Em7
EADGBE2
EADGBE114237frEADGBE1111328frEADGBExx2314
B7sus4
EADGBEx123
2frEADGBE1111344frEADGBE1122xx7frEADGBE111134
B7
EADGBEx2134
EADGBE1111344frEADGBE111xx27frEADGBE111132
C♯m9
EADGBE2222x1
5frEADGBE222x147frEADGBE333x129frEADGBE111134
Eaug/G♯
EADGBE4312
5frEADGBE11x32x7frEADGBEx3211x9frEADGBE11432
D♯7
EADGBExx1324
6frEADGBE111x348frEADGBE111xx211frEADGBE111132
A♯m7♭5
EADGBEx1324x
EADGBE11xx245frEADGBE2x341x8frEADGBE222xx1
AMaj7
EADGBEx213
EADGBE111x45frEADGBE1114237frEADGBE333x1

In a Sentimental Mood in C#

Key of C#

C# major (or Db) sits in barre chord territory across the fretboard. Every chord demands precise barring, but the payoff is a bright, crystalline sound a half step above C that cuts through a band mix. C# is a intermediate-advanced-level key on guitar because no open strings fall within the key naturally, so every chord requires full barre technique. Expect to rely on barre chords throughout, which builds hand strength and unlocks the entire fretboard.

Voice Leading

The bass line moves through C# to C# (ascending unison), C# to C# (ascending unison), C# to C# (ascending unison), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to A (ascending minor third), A to F# (descending minor third), F# to G# (ascending whole step), G# to G# (ascending unison), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to B (descending whole step), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to D# (descending half step), D# to D (descending half step), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to A (descending minor third), A to G (descending whole step), G to F (descending whole step), F to C (descending perfect fourth), C to D# (ascending minor third), D# to D (descending half step), D to E (ascending whole step), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to B (ascending unison), B to C# (ascending whole step), C# to E (ascending minor third), E to D# (descending half step), D# to A# (descending perfect fourth), A# to A (descending half step). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. The predominantly stepwise bass motion creates smooth, connected voice leading. When the progression loops, the bass returns from A to C# by major third.

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: C♯m, C♯mMaj7, C♯m7, C♯m6, F♯m7, Aaug/F♯, F♯m6, G♯7♯5, G♯m7, C♯9, B7♭9, E69, D♯m7, Dm9, G13, CMaj7, Am7, G7, FMaj7, C/E, D♯13, Dm7, Em7, B7sus4, B7, C♯m9, Eaug/G♯, D♯7, A♯m7♭5, AMaj7.

Scales for Improvisation C# bebop minor, C# bebop.

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