Love Is Here to Stay in C#

George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin(1938)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A

Chord Diagrams — Love Is Here to Stay in C# (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
C♯6
EADGBEx4231x
4frEADGBE3333x16frEADGBE1114239frEADGBE11x324
Edim/G♯
EADGBExx12x3
5frEADGBEx41x237frEADGBEx1243x10frEADGBE31x42x
C♯Maj7
EADGBE111x43
4frEADGBE1113246frEADGBE11xxx39frEADGBE1x342x
A♯9
EADGBEx1234
5frEADGBE11234x6frEADGBE11132412frEADGBE2222x1
A♯dim7
EADGBEx123
EADGBExx13246frEADGBE1112348frEADGBExx1324
D♯m7
EADGBExx1423
6frEADGBE1111327frEADGBExx231411frEADGBE111114
Ddim7
EADGBExx23
4frEADGBE11x2347frEADGBEx243110frEADGBE111234
G♯9/D♯
10frEADGBE222221
EADGBE11234x4frEADGBE1113245frEADGBExx2143
G♯9
EADGBE11234x
4frEADGBE1113245frEADGBExx214310frEADGBE222221
C♯6/F
EADGBEx4231x
4frEADGBE3333x16frEADGBE1114239frEADGBE11x324
Edim7
EADGBE123
EADGBExx13246frEADGBEx2314x11frEADGBE112x3x
G♯7
EADGBE111xx2
4frEADGBE1111326frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBE111134
F♯Maj7
EADGBE111423
4frEADGBE11x3336frEADGBE111x439frEADGBE111324
Fm7
EADGBE111113
3frEADGBExx14238frEADGBE1111329frEADGBExx2314
C♯9/F
EADGBE222221
8frEADGBE3142xx9frEADGBE11132410frEADGBExx2143
D♯9
EADGBExx132
5frEADGBE2222x110frEADGBE3142xx11frEADGBE111324
Cm7♭5
EADGBEx1324x
4frEADGBE11xx248frEADGBE11123410frEADGBE333xx1
F7
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBE11x3248frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111xx2
A♯
EADGBE11x234
3frEADGBE11143x6frEADGBE1113428frEADGBE11x243
D♯7
EADGBExx1324
6frEADGBE111x348frEADGBE111xx211frEADGBE111132
A♯7
EADGBE111x34
6frEADGBE1111328frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBEx3241x
F♯7
EADGBE111132
4frEADGBE11x3247frEADGBEx3241x9frEADGBE111134
B7
EADGBEx2134
EADGBE1111344frEADGBE111xx27frEADGBE111132
Gm7
3frEADGBE111113
5frEADGBE11x4238frEADGBE11x23410frEADGBE111132
C7
EADGBEx3241
3frEADGBE1111345frEADGBE111xx28frEADGBE111132
A♯m7
EADGBE111x32
EADGBExx23146frEADGBE1111138frEADGBE11x423

Love Is Here to Stay 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 E (ascending minor third), E to C# (descending minor third), C# to A# (descending minor third), A# to A# (ascending unison), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to D (descending half step), D to G# (ascending tritone), G# to G# (ascending unison), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to E (ascending minor third), E to G# (ascending major third), G# to F# (descending whole step), F# to F (descending half step), F to C# (descending major third), C# to D# (ascending whole step), D# to C (descending minor third), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to A# (descending perfect fourth), A# to F# (descending major third), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to G (descending major third), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to A# (descending whole step). 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 A# to C# by minor 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 · 51 bars · Form: A

Chords: C♯6, Edim/G♯, C♯Maj7, A♯9, A♯dim7, D♯m7, Ddim7, G♯9/D♯, G♯9, C♯6/F, Edim7, G♯7, F♯Maj7, Fm7, C♯9/F, D♯9, Cm7♭5, F7, A♯, D♯7, A♯7, F♯7, B7, Gm7, C7, A♯m7.

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

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