In a Sentimental Mood in F

Duke Ellington, Irvin Mills, Manny Kurtz()swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
C♯aug/A♯
G♯69
C7♯5
G♯69
B13
E/G♯
G13
D♯7sus4
C7♯5
G♯aug/C
C♯aug/A♯
C7♯5
G♯69

Chord Diagrams — In a Sentimental Mood in F (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
Fm
EADGBE111134
3frEADGBExx13428frEADGBE11134210frEADGBE1142xx
FmMaj7
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBExx13428frEADGBE11142312frEADGBExx4231
Fm7
EADGBE111113
3frEADGBExx14238frEADGBE1111329frEADGBExx2314
Fm6
EADGBE1x234
3frEADGBE11xx326frEADGBE11x3249frEADGBExx2314
A♯m7
EADGBE111x32
EADGBExx23146frEADGBE1111138frEADGBE11x423
C♯aug/A♯
EADGBE11x234
4frEADGBE1111346frEADGBE11432x9frEADGBE11x423
A♯m6
EADGBEx13x24
3frEADGBEx2314x5frEADGBE2222x16frEADGBE111234
C7♯5
EADGBEx213x4
3frEADGBE11x4328frEADGBE1x23410frEADGBExx1423
Cm7
EADGBEx2134x
3frEADGBE1111324frEADGBExx23148frEADGBE111113
F9
EADGBE111324
EADGBExx21437frEADGBE22222110frEADGBE1111x2
D♯7♭9
EADGBExx24
5frEADGBE11x2346frEADGBE11x349frEADGBE3241xx
G♯69
EADGBE11111x
EADGBE1112345frEADGBExx213410frEADGBE11x234
Gm7
3frEADGBE111113
5frEADGBE11x4238frEADGBE11x23410frEADGBE111132
F♯m9
EADGBE2314
EADGBE1111237frEADGBE2222x110frEADGBExx2413
B13
EADGBE44x213
EADGBE1111344frEADGBE1114327frEADGBE111234
EMaj7
EADGBE312
EADGBE333xx14frEADGBE111x437frEADGBE111324
C♯m7
4frEADGBE111x32
5frEADGBExx23149frEADGBE11111411frEADGBExx1423
B7
EADGBEx2134
EADGBE1111344frEADGBE111xx27frEADGBE111132
AMaj7
EADGBEx213
EADGBE111x45frEADGBE1114237frEADGBE333x1
E/G♯
4frEADGBE111432
EADGBE2312frEADGBExx12437frEADGBE111234
G13
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE11x2343frEADGBE1113249frEADGBE222x14
F♯m7
EADGBE111113
4frEADGBExx14239frEADGBE11113210frEADGBExx2314
G♯m7
4frEADGBE111113
6frEADGBE11x4239frEADGBE11x23x11frEADGBE111132
D♯7sus4
EADGBExx1324
4frEADGBE11x2346frEADGBE11113411frEADGBE111134
D♯7
EADGBExx1324
6frEADGBE111x348frEADGBE111xx211frEADGBE111132
Fm9
EADGBE111134
EADGBEx12346frEADGBE2222x111frEADGBE22221
G♯aug/C
EADGBE11432x
4frEADGBE1x423x5frEADGBE11xx2x9frEADGBE11x32x
G7
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE1111325frEADGBE11x32410frEADGBE111134
Dm7♭5
EADGBE111xx
3frEADGBE11x3425frEADGBEx1324x8frEADGBEx1432
C♯Maj7
EADGBE111x43
4frEADGBE1113246frEADGBE11xxx39frEADGBE1x342x

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

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 · 26 bars · Form: AB

Chords: Fm, FmMaj7, Fm7, Fm6, A♯m7, C♯aug/A♯, A♯m6, C7♯5, Cm7, F9, D♯7♭9, G♯69, Gm7, F♯m9, B13, EMaj7, C♯m7, B7, AMaj7, E/G♯, G13, F♯m7, G♯m7, D♯7sus4, D♯7, Fm9, G♯aug/C, G7, Dm7♭5, C♯Maj7.

Scales for Improvisation F bebop minor, F bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of F