My Ship in A#

Kurt Weill / Ira Gershwin(1941)ballad
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
Cm7/F
Cm7/F
C7sus4
F7sus4
A♯69
F7sus4
A♯69
A♯Maj9
G♯7sus4
D♯Maj9
A♯69

Chord Diagrams — My Ship in A# (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
G7♭9
EADGBE11324
EADGBE111x234frEADGBE11xx239frEADGBE11x234
A♯69
EADGBEx123
5frEADGBE1112347frEADGBE2222x112frEADGBE11x234
F7
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBE11x3248frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111xx2
F7sus4
EADGBE111134
6frEADGBE1112348frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE11xx34
C9
EADGBE222221
7frEADGBE1123447frEADGBE1113249frEADGBExx2143
G7♯9
EADGBE3241
3frEADGBE1144324frEADGBE44x2319frEADGBEx2134x
F7♭9
EADGBE111423
EADGBE11xx237frEADGBE11x23411frEADGBE3241xx
C7
EADGBEx3241
3frEADGBE1111345frEADGBE111xx28frEADGBE111132
G♯7
EADGBE111xx2
4frEADGBE1111326frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBE111134
A♯6
EADGBE3333x1
5frEADGBE21346frEADGBE113x2410frEADGBEx4231x
D7♭9
2frEADGBExx431
4frEADGBE11x2345frEADGBE11x248frEADGBE3241xx
Am7♭5
EADGBEx23x
4frEADGBE2x341x5frEADGBE1112347frEADGBE222xx1
Cm9
EADGBE2222x1
EADGBEx12436frEADGBE333x128frEADGBE111134
Gm7
3frEADGBE111113
5frEADGBE11x4238frEADGBE11x23410frEADGBE111132
Cm7
EADGBEx2134x
3frEADGBE1111324frEADGBExx23148frEADGBE111113
Cm7/F
EADGBEx2134x
3frEADGBE1111324frEADGBExx23148frEADGBE111113
D♯m6
EADGBE111x32
4frEADGBE11x3247frEADGBExx231411frEADGBE111234
A7
EADGBEx23
EADGBE111x25frEADGBE1111327frEADGBEx1324
Em7♭5
EADGBE33312
7frEADGBEx1324x8frEADGBE11xx2411frEADGBE2x341x
A♯Maj7
EADGBE11x324
3frEADGBE111xx46frEADGBE1114238frEADGBE11333x
Dm7
EADGBExx312
5frEADGBE1111326frEADGBExx231410frEADGBE111113
Dm
EADGBExx231
5frEADGBE1113426frEADGBEx4231x10frEADGBE111134
C7sus4
EADGBE11x234
3frEADGBE1111345frEADGBE11xx238frEADGBE111134
G7
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE1111325frEADGBE11x32410frEADGBE111134
Bdim7
EADGBE11x234
EADGBExx13246frEADGBE3x142x7frEADGBE111234
E7♯11
EADGBE12
3frEADGBE31426frEADGBE11x23411frEADGBE111234
A♯Maj9
G♯7sus4
EADGBE1122xx
4frEADGBE1111349frEADGBE11x23411frEADGBE111134
D♯Maj9
C♯7
EADGBEx3241x
4frEADGBE111x346frEADGBE1114329frEADGBE111132
F♯Maj7
EADGBE111423
4frEADGBE11x3336frEADGBE111x439frEADGBE111324

My Ship in A#

Key of A#

A# (Bb) major requires barre chords rooted at fret 1 on the A string or fret 6 on the E string. Despite the barre demands, it is a common key in funk, New Orleans R&B, and brass band music. The open D string can ring as the major third for added color. A# is a intermediate-level key on guitar because the open D string is the major 3rd of Bb, adding a bright color if allowed to 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 A# (ascending minor third), A# to F (descending perfect fourth), F to F (ascending unison), F to C (descending perfect fourth), C to G (descending perfect fourth), G to F (descending whole step), F to C (descending perfect fourth), C to G# (descending major third), G# to A# (ascending whole step), A# to D (ascending major third), D to A (descending perfect fourth), A to C (ascending minor third), C to G (descending perfect fourth), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to C (ascending unison), C to D# (ascending minor third), D# to A (ascending tritone), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to A# (ascending tritone), A# to D (ascending major third), D to D (ascending unison), D to C (descending whole step), C to G (descending perfect fourth), G to B (ascending major third), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A# (ascending tritone), A# to G# (descending whole step), G# to D# (descending perfect fourth), D# to C# (descending whole step), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth). 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 F# to G by half step.

Scales for Improvisation

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

ballad4/4 · 32 bars · Form: AB

Chords: G7♭9, A♯69, F7, F7sus4, C9, G7♯9, F7♭9, C7, G♯7, A♯6, D7♭9, Am7♭5, Cm9, Gm7, Cm7, Cm7/F, D♯m6, A7, Em7♭5, A♯Maj7, Dm7, Dm, C7sus4, G7, Bdim7, E7♯11, A♯Maj9, G♯7sus4, D♯Maj9, C♯7, F♯Maj7.

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

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