On Green Dolphin Street in C

Bronisław Kaper / Ned Washington(1947)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
D/C
C♯/C
Gaug7
A♯aug7
D/C
C♯/C
G♯dim/A
C/G
D♯7/G
Dm7/G
Gaug7

Chord Diagrams — On Green Dolphin Street in C (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
C
EADGBEx321
3frEADGBE1112345frEADGBE111xx48frEADGBE111342
Cm7
EADGBEx2134x
3frEADGBE1111324frEADGBExx23148frEADGBE111113
D/C
EADGBExx132
2frEADGBE1114325frEADGBE11123410frEADGBE111342
C♯/C
EADGBE11x432
4frEADGBE1112346frEADGBE1113249frEADGBE111342
Dm7
EADGBExx312
5frEADGBE1111326frEADGBExx231410frEADGBE111113
G7
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE1111325frEADGBE11x32410frEADGBE111134
Gaug7
EADGBE4312
EADGBE1x234x5frEADGBExx142310frEADGBE11x432
Fm7
EADGBE111113
3frEADGBExx14238frEADGBE1111329frEADGBExx2314
A♯7
EADGBE111x34
6frEADGBE1111328frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBEx3241x
A♯aug7
EADGBE11x432
6frEADGBE1x234x8frEADGBExx142312frEADGBEx213x4
D♯
EADGBExx1243
3frEADGBE11x4326frEADGBE11x2348frEADGBE111xx4
E7
EADGBE21
5frEADGBEx3241x7frEADGBE1111349frEADGBE111xx2
G♯dim/A
EADGBE31x42x
6frEADGBExx12x39frEADGBEx41x2311frEADGBEx1243x
Am
EADGBEx231
2frEADGBE444x15frEADGBE1111347frEADGBEx1342
D7
EADGBExx213
3frEADGBEx3241x5frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111132
D7♭9
2frEADGBExx431
4frEADGBE11x2345frEADGBE11x248frEADGBE3241xx
C/G
3frEADGBE111234
EADGBEx3215frEADGBE111xx48frEADGBE111342
D♯7/G
EADGBExx1324
6frEADGBE111x348frEADGBE111xx211frEADGBE111132
Dm7/G
EADGBExx312
5frEADGBE1111326frEADGBExx231410frEADGBE111113

On Green Dolphin Street 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 C (ascending unison), C to D (ascending whole step), D to C# (descending half step), C# to D (ascending half step), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to G (ascending unison), G to F (descending whole step), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to A# (ascending unison), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to E (ascending half step), E to G# (ascending major third), G# to A (ascending half step), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to D (ascending unison), D to C (descending whole step), C to D# (ascending minor third), D# to D (descending half step). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. The predominantly stepwise bass motion creates smooth, connected voice leading. 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 · 32 bars · Form: A

Chords: C, Cm7, D/C, C♯/C, Dm7, G7, Gaug7, Fm7, A♯7, A♯aug7, D♯, E7, G♯dim/A, Am, D7, D7♭9, C/G, D♯7/G, Dm7/G.

Scales for Improvisation C bebop, C bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of C