My Heart Stood Still in C

Richard Rodgers / Lorenz Hart(1927)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
G7/F
Cm/D♯
Caug7
Caug/E
G♯5
Caug7/E

Chord Diagrams — My Heart Stood Still in C (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
C
EADGBEx321
3frEADGBE1112345frEADGBE111xx48frEADGBE111342
A♯
EADGBE11x234
3frEADGBE11143x6frEADGBE1113428frEADGBE11x243
G♯
EADGBE11132x
4frEADGBE1113426frEADGBE11x2438frEADGBE111432
Dm7
EADGBExx312
5frEADGBE1111326frEADGBExx231410frEADGBE111113
G7
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE1111325frEADGBE11x32410frEADGBE111134
C6
EADGBEx4231
3frEADGBE3333x17frEADGBE2x143x8frEADGBE11x324
E
EADGBE231
2frEADGBExx12434frEADGBE1114327frEADGBE111234
E6
EADGBE2314
EADGBE111345frEADGBEx4231x7frEADGBE3333x1
F♯m7
EADGBE111113
4frEADGBExx14239frEADGBE11113210frEADGBExx2314
B7
EADGBEx2134
EADGBE1111344frEADGBE111xx27frEADGBE111132
G
EADGBE213
3frEADGBE1113425frEADGBE11x2437frEADGBE111432
Am7
EADGBEx21
EADGBEx23145frEADGBE1111137frEADGBE11x423
D7
EADGBExx213
3frEADGBEx3241x5frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111132
G6
EADGBE21
EADGBE2x143x5frEADGBE111x3410frEADGBE3333x1
G7/F
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE1111325frEADGBE11x32410frEADGBE111134
Em7
EADGBE2
EADGBE114237frEADGBE1111328frEADGBExx2314
Cm/D♯
EADGBEx3214
3frEADGBE1113425frEADGBE1142xx8frEADGBE111134
D♯dim
EADGBExx12x3
4frEADGBEx41x236frEADGBEx1243x9frEADGBE31x42x
Caug7
EADGBEx213x4
3frEADGBE11x4328frEADGBE1x23410frEADGBExx1423
Caug/E
EADGBE11x32x
3frEADGBEx1423x5frEADGBE11432x8frEADGBExx4231
F6
EADGBE11x324
3frEADGBE111x346frEADGBEx4231x8frEADGBE113333
G9
EADGBE31
EADGBE11234x3frEADGBE1113249frEADGBE222221
A7
EADGBEx23
EADGBE111x25frEADGBE1111327frEADGBEx1324
F
EADGBE111342
3frEADGBE11x2435frEADGBE1114328frEADGBE111234
Cm6
EADGBE11x324
3frEADGBEx13x247frEADGBE2222x18frEADGBE111234
G♯5
G♯ - D♯
GMaj7
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE1114235frEADGBE11333x10frEADGBE11x324
Am7♭5
EADGBEx23x
4frEADGBE2x341x5frEADGBE1112347frEADGBE222xx1
G♯9
EADGBE11234x
4frEADGBE1113245frEADGBExx214310frEADGBE222221
Gsus2
EADGBE123
5frEADGBE1111347frEADGBE11x32410frEADGBE111134
Caug7/E
EADGBEx213x4
3frEADGBE11x4328frEADGBE1x23410frEADGBExx1423

My Heart Stood Still in C

Key of C

With no sharps or flats, C major is the theoretical home base on guitar. The open G, B, and high E strings all belong to the C major chord, creating natural sustain. C is a beginner-level key on guitar because the open B and high E strings ring within the scale, and every basic chord uses familiar open shapes. Beginners will find this key approachable since most chords use open voicings with minimal stretching.

Voice Leading

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

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 · 42 bars · Form: AB

Chords: C, A♯, G♯, Dm7, G7, C6, E, E6, F♯m7, B7, G, Am7, D7, G6, G7/F, Em7, Cm/D♯, D♯dim, Caug7, Caug/E, F6, G9, A7, F, Cm6, G♯5, GMaj7, Am7♭5, G♯9, Gsus2, Caug7/E.

Scales for Improvisation C bebop, C bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of C