My Ship in C

Kurt Weill / Ira Gershwin(1941)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
Dm7/G
Dm7/G
D7sus4
G7sus4
G7sus4
FMaj9
A♯7sus4
C69

Chord Diagrams — My Ship in C (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
C69
EADGBE11x334
3frEADGBEx1347frEADGBE1112349frEADGBE2222x1
A7♭9
EADGBE11x23
5frEADGBE1114236frEADGBE11xx2311frEADGBE11x234
D9
4frEADGBE222221
7frEADGBEx12349frEADGBE11234x10frEADGBE111324
G7sus4
EADGBE1123
3frEADGBE1111348frEADGBE11x23410frEADGBE111134
G7
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE1111325frEADGBE11x32410frEADGBE111134
A7♯9
5frEADGBE114432
6frEADGBExx21348frEADGBEx421311frEADGBEx2134x
D7
EADGBExx213
3frEADGBEx3241x5frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111132
G7♭9
EADGBE11324
EADGBE111x234frEADGBE11xx239frEADGBE11x234
C6
EADGBEx4231
3frEADGBE3333x17frEADGBE2x143x8frEADGBE11x324
A♯7
EADGBE111x34
6frEADGBE1111328frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBEx3241x
Dm9
EADGBE132
3frEADGBE2222x15frEADGBEx142310frEADGBE111134
Bm7♭5
EADGBEx1324x
6frEADGBE2x341x7frEADGBE1112349frEADGBE222xx1
E7♭9
EADGBE312
4frEADGBE11346frEADGBE11x23410frEADGBE3241xx
Am7
EADGBEx21
EADGBEx23145frEADGBE1111137frEADGBE11x423
Dm7
EADGBExx312
5frEADGBE1111326frEADGBExx231410frEADGBE111113
Dm7/G
EADGBExx312
5frEADGBE1111326frEADGBExx231410frEADGBE111113
Fm6
EADGBE1x234
3frEADGBE11xx326frEADGBE11x3249frEADGBExx2314
CMaj7
EADGBE231
3frEADGBE1113245frEADGBE111xx410frEADGBE333xx1
F♯m7♭5
EADGBE2341
4frEADGBE222xx19frEADGBEx1324x10frEADGBE11xx24
B7
EADGBEx2134
EADGBE1111344frEADGBE111xx27frEADGBE111132
Em7
EADGBE2
EADGBE114237frEADGBE1111328frEADGBExx2314
Em
EADGBE23
2frEADGBE113427frEADGBE1113429frEADGBE4312xx
A7
EADGBEx23
EADGBE111x25frEADGBE1111327frEADGBEx1324
D7sus4
EADGBExx214
3frEADGBEx2341x5frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111134
C♯dim7
EADGBExx1324
3frEADGBE11x2348frEADGBE112x3x11frEADGBExx1324
CMaj9
F♯7♯11
EADGBE111234
4frEADGBExx12348frEADGBE11x2349frEADGBE111x23
FMaj9
A♯7sus4
EADGBE111x34
EADGBE1122xx6frEADGBE1111348frEADGBExx1324
D♯7
EADGBExx1324
6frEADGBE111x348frEADGBE111xx211frEADGBE111132
G♯Maj7
4frEADGBE111423
6frEADGBE11x3339frEADGBEx3241x11frEADGBE111324

My Ship 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 minor third), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to G (ascending unison), G to A (ascending whole step), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to A# (descending whole step), A# to D (ascending major third), D to B (descending minor third), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to D (ascending unison), D to F (ascending minor third), F to C (descending perfect fourth), C to F# (ascending tritone), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to E (ascending unison), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to C# (descending half step), C# to C (descending half step), C to F# (ascending tritone), F# to F (descending half step), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to G# (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 G# to C by major 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 · 32 bars · Form: AB

Chords: C69, A7♭9, D9, G7sus4, G7, A7♯9, D7, G7♭9, C6, A♯7, Dm9, Bm7♭5, E7♭9, Am7, Dm7, Dm7/G, Fm6, CMaj7, F♯m7♭5, B7, Em7, Em, A7, D7sus4, C♯dim7, CMaj9, F♯7♯11, FMaj9, A♯7sus4, D♯7, G♯Maj7.

Scales for Improvisation C bebop, C bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of C