Love Is Here to Stay in F

George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin(1938)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
G♯dim/C
C9/G
F9/A

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

Display
FingerNoteDegree
F6
EADGBE11x324
3frEADGBE111x346frEADGBEx4231x8frEADGBE113333
G♯dim/C
EADGBE31x42x
6frEADGBExx12x39frEADGBEx41x2311frEADGBEx1243x
FMaj7
EADGBExx321
EADGBE1114233frEADGBE11x3338frEADGBE111324
D9
4frEADGBE222221
7frEADGBEx12349frEADGBE11234x10frEADGBE111324
Ddim7
EADGBExx23
4frEADGBE11x2347frEADGBEx243110frEADGBE111234
Gm7
3frEADGBE111113
5frEADGBE11x4238frEADGBE11x23410frEADGBE111132
F♯dim7
EADGBE112x3x
EADGBE1112344frEADGBExx13248frEADGBE111234
C9/G
EADGBE222221
7frEADGBE1123447frEADGBE1113249frEADGBExx2143
C9
EADGBE222221
7frEADGBE1123447frEADGBE1113249frEADGBExx2143
F6/A
EADGBE11x324
3frEADGBE111x346frEADGBEx4231x8frEADGBE113333
G♯dim7
EADGBExx12
EADGBE112x346frEADGBExx132410frEADGBE111234
C7
EADGBEx3241
3frEADGBE1111345frEADGBE111xx28frEADGBE111132
A♯Maj7
EADGBE11x324
3frEADGBE111xx46frEADGBE1114238frEADGBE11333x
Am7
EADGBEx21
EADGBEx23145frEADGBE1111137frEADGBE11x423
F9/A
EADGBE111324
EADGBExx21437frEADGBE22222110frEADGBE1111x2
G9
EADGBE31
EADGBE11234x3frEADGBE1113249frEADGBE222221
Em7♭5
EADGBE33312
7frEADGBEx1324x8frEADGBE11xx2411frEADGBE2x341x
A7
EADGBEx23
EADGBE111x25frEADGBE1111327frEADGBEx1324
D
EADGBExx132
2frEADGBE1114325frEADGBE11123410frEADGBE111342
G7
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE1111325frEADGBE11x32410frEADGBE111134
D7
EADGBExx213
3frEADGBEx3241x5frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111132
A♯7
EADGBE111x34
6frEADGBE1111328frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBEx3241x
D♯7
EADGBExx1324
6frEADGBE111x348frEADGBE111xx211frEADGBE111132
Bm7
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBExx23147frEADGBE1111139frEADGBE11x423
E7
EADGBE21
5frEADGBEx3241x7frEADGBE1111349frEADGBE111xx2
Dm7
EADGBExx312
5frEADGBE1111326frEADGBExx231410frEADGBE111113

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

Chords: F6, G♯dim/C, FMaj7, D9, Ddim7, Gm7, F♯dim7, C9/G, C9, F6/A, G♯dim7, C7, A♯Maj7, Am7, F9/A, G9, Em7♭5, A7, D, G7, D7, A♯7, D♯7, Bm7, E7, Dm7.

Scales for Improvisation F bebop, F bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of F