Nice Work If You Can Get It in C#

George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin(1937)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
F7♯5
G♯/C
G♯7♯5
C♯/C
Gm7♭5/F
F7♯5
D♯7♯5
C♯13
D♯13
G♯7sus4
G♯7sus4
F7♯5
D♯7♯5
D♯13
G♯7sus4
G♯7sus4
F7♯5
D♯13
G♯7♯5
F7♯5
D♯7♯5
D♯13
F7♯5

Chord Diagrams — Nice Work If You Can Get It in C# (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
C♯
EADGBE11x432
4frEADGBE1112346frEADGBE1113249frEADGBE111342
A♯m7
EADGBE111x32
EADGBExx23146frEADGBE1111138frEADGBE11x423
D♯m7
EADGBExx1423
6frEADGBE1111327frEADGBExx231411frEADGBE111114
G♯7
EADGBE111xx2
4frEADGBE1111326frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBE111134
F7♯5
EADGBE1234x
3frEADGBExx14238frEADGBE11x43212frEADGBE213x4x
A♯m
EADGBE11x342
6frEADGBE1111346frEADGBE111xx38frEADGBExx1342
C♯6
EADGBEx4231x
4frEADGBE3333x16frEADGBE1114239frEADGBE11x324
G♯/C
8frEADGBE111432
EADGBE11132x4frEADGBE1113426frEADGBE11x243
Bdim7
EADGBE11x234
EADGBExx13246frEADGBE3x142x7frEADGBE111234
D♯7
EADGBExx1324
6frEADGBE111x348frEADGBE111xx211frEADGBE111132
G♯9
EADGBE11234x
4frEADGBE1113245frEADGBExx214310frEADGBE222221
G♯7♯5
4frEADGBE1x234
6frEADGBExx14239frEADGBEx324111frEADGBE11x432
C♯/C
EADGBE11x432
4frEADGBE1112346frEADGBE1113249frEADGBE111342
C7
EADGBEx3241
3frEADGBE1111345frEADGBE111xx28frEADGBE111132
Fm
EADGBE111134
3frEADGBExx13428frEADGBE11134210frEADGBE1142xx
Fm7
EADGBE111113
3frEADGBExx14238frEADGBE1111329frEADGBExx2314
Fdim7
EADGBE1x23
EADGBE11xx347frEADGBE11123412frEADGBE3x142x
Gm7♭5/F
EADGBE3xx421
EADGBE2x341x5frEADGBE222xx110frEADGBEx1324x
A♯7
EADGBE111x34
6frEADGBE1111328frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBEx3241x
A♯9
EADGBEx1234
5frEADGBE11234x6frEADGBE11132412frEADGBE2222x1
D♯7♯5
EADGBExx1423
6frEADGBE11x4329frEADGBE324111frEADGBE1x234x
C♯13
EADGBEx4231
4frEADGBE1111347frEADGBE2223419frEADGBE111234
F♯9
EADGBE111324
3frEADGBExx21438frEADGBE22222111frEADGBE1111x2
D♯13
5frEADGBE44x213
6frEADGBE1111349frEADGBE1142311frEADGBE111234
Edim
EADGBExx12x3
5frEADGBEx41x237frEADGBEx1243x10frEADGBE31x42x
G♯7sus4
EADGBE1122xx
4frEADGBE1111349frEADGBE11x23411frEADGBE111134
F♯7
EADGBE111132
4frEADGBE11x3247frEADGBEx3241x9frEADGBE111134
C♯7
EADGBEx3241x
4frEADGBE111x346frEADGBE1114329frEADGBE111132
G♯m
4frEADGBE111134
6frEADGBExx13427frEADGBExx324111frEADGBE111342
A♯m7♭5
EADGBEx1324x
EADGBE11xx245frEADGBE2x341x8frEADGBE222xx1
D♯7♭9
EADGBExx24
5frEADGBE11x2346frEADGBE11x349frEADGBE3241xx

Nice Work If You Can Get It 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 A# (descending minor third), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to F (descending minor third), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to C# (ascending minor third), C# to G# (descending perfect fourth), G# to B (ascending minor third), B to D# (ascending major third), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to G# (ascending unison), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to C (descending half step), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to F (ascending unison), F to F (ascending unison), F to G (ascending whole step), G to A# (ascending minor third), A# to A# (ascending unison), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to C# (descending whole step), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to D# (descending minor third), D# to E (ascending half step), E to G# (ascending major third), G# to F# (descending whole step), F# to C# (descending perfect fourth), C# to G# (descending perfect fourth), G# to A# (ascending whole step), A# to D# (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 D# to C# by whole step.

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.

swing2/2 · 54 bars · Form: A

Chords: C♯, A♯m7, D♯m7, G♯7, F7♯5, A♯m, C♯6, G♯/C, Bdim7, D♯7, G♯9, G♯7♯5, C♯/C, C7, Fm, Fm7, Fdim7, Gm7♭5/F, A♯7, A♯9, D♯7♯5, C♯13, F♯9, D♯13, Edim, G♯7sus4, F♯7, C♯7, G♯m, A♯m7♭5, D♯7♭9.

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

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