In a Sentimental Mood in G#

Duke Ellington, Irvin Mills, Manny Kurtz()swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
Eaug/C♯
D♯7♯5
B69
D♯7♯5
B69
D13
G/B
A♯13
F♯7sus4
D♯7♯5
Baug/D♯
Eaug/C♯
D♯7♯5
B69

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

Display
FingerNoteDegree
G♯m
4frEADGBE111134
6frEADGBExx13427frEADGBExx324111frEADGBE111342
G♯mMaj7
EADGBE11x243
4frEADGBE1111326frEADGBE11x34211frEADGBE11x423
G♯m7
4frEADGBE111113
6frEADGBE11x4239frEADGBE11x23x11frEADGBE111132
G♯m6
EADGBE2x134x
4frEADGBE1112346frEADGBE111x329frEADGBE11x324
C♯m7
4frEADGBE111x32
5frEADGBExx23149frEADGBE11111411frEADGBExx1423
Eaug/C♯
EADGBE4312
5frEADGBE11x32x7frEADGBEx3211x9frEADGBE11432
C♯m6
EADGBE11x324
5frEADGBExx23148frEADGBE2x134x9frEADGBE111234
D♯7♯5
EADGBExx1423
6frEADGBE11x4329frEADGBE324111frEADGBE1x234x
D♯m7
EADGBExx1423
6frEADGBE1111327frEADGBExx231411frEADGBE111114
G♯9
EADGBE11234x
4frEADGBE1113245frEADGBExx214310frEADGBE222221
F♯7♭9
EADGBE2134
3frEADGBE11xx238frEADGBE11x23412frEADGBE3241xx
B69
EADGBE11x234
6frEADGBE1112348frEADGBE2222x111frEADGBE11x432
A♯m7
EADGBE111x32
EADGBExx23146frEADGBE1111138frEADGBE11x423
Am9
EADGBEx2413
5frEADGBE1111348frEADGBE13210frEADGBE2222x1
D13
EADGBExx412
5frEADGBE1111348frEADGBE423110frEADGBE1x234x
GMaj7
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE1114235frEADGBE11333x10frEADGBE11x324
Em7
EADGBE2
EADGBE114237frEADGBE1111328frEADGBExx2314
D7
EADGBExx213
3frEADGBEx3241x5frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111132
CMaj7
EADGBE231
3frEADGBE1113245frEADGBE111xx410frEADGBE333xx1
G/B
7frEADGBE111432
EADGBE2133frEADGBE1113425frEADGBE11x243
A♯13
EADGBE44x12
4frEADGBE11326frEADGBE11123412frEADGBE44x213
Am7
EADGBEx21
EADGBEx23145frEADGBE1111137frEADGBE11x423
Bm7
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBExx23147frEADGBE1111139frEADGBE11x423
F♯7sus4
EADGBE111134
4frEADGBExx13247frEADGBE11x2349frEADGBE111134
F♯7
EADGBE111132
4frEADGBE11x3247frEADGBEx3241x9frEADGBE111134
G♯m9
EADGBE11143
4frEADGBE1111347frEADGBE2213419frEADGBE2222x1
Baug/D♯
EADGBEx21x
3frEADGBExx42317frEADGBE1x423x12frEADGBE11x32
A♯7
EADGBE111x34
6frEADGBE1111328frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBEx3241x
Fm7♭5
EADGBE1x23x
EADGBE222xx18frEADGBEx1324x11frEADGBE2134x
EMaj7
EADGBE312
EADGBE333xx14frEADGBE111x437frEADGBE111324

In a Sentimental Mood in G#

Key of G#

G# major (or Ab) lives at fret 4 on the low E string. All chords require barre technique, making it less common in guitar-centric songwriting but standard in piano-driven pop. Guitarists often use a capo to access friendlier shapes. G# is a intermediate-advanced-level key on guitar because the open G string is a half step below the root, creating dissonance — avoid letting it ring. Expect to rely on barre chords throughout, which builds hand strength and unlocks the entire fretboard.

Voice Leading

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

Scales for Improvisation

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

swing4/4 · 26 bars · Form: AB

Chords: G♯m, G♯mMaj7, G♯m7, G♯m6, C♯m7, Eaug/C♯, C♯m6, D♯7♯5, D♯m7, G♯9, F♯7♭9, B69, A♯m7, Am9, D13, GMaj7, Em7, D7, CMaj7, G/B, A♯13, Am7, Bm7, F♯7sus4, F♯7, G♯m9, Baug/D♯, A♯7, Fm7♭5, EMaj7.

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

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