Who composed Poor Butterfly?

Poor Butterfly was composed by Raymond Hubbell. It is a ballad standard in 4/4 time. The original key is Ab; this page shows it transposed to F.

What key is Poor Butterfly in?

The original key of Poor Butterfly is Ab. The form is ABAC with 30 bars. This page shows the chart transposed to F.

What scales work for improvising over Poor Butterfly?

Recommended scales for Poor Butterfly in F: bebop, bebop major. Scales and arpeggios update in real-time as each chord plays, with context-aware analysis (e.g., Phrygian Dominant over secondary dominants).

How does the interactive backing track work?

The backing track plays with realistic walking bass, drum patterns, and voice-led chord voicings. Scales and arpeggios update in real-time as each chord plays. You can limit the fretboard zone for close-proximity voicings, toggle a reference melody, loop any section, and choose between multiple sound presets. Works for guitar, piano, bass, ukulele, and 7 more instruments.

Can I edit the chord chart?

Yes. You can modify the structure, chords, and arrangement of any standard to match your preferred version or create your own reharmonization.

Poor Butterfly in F

Raymond Hubbell()balladModerately Slow

Do Re MiC D E

Section A

♬

A7♯5

Section B

♬

A7♯5

♬

Section A

♬

A7♯5

Section C

♬

BPM: 120

Chord Diagrams — Poor Butterfly in F (Guitar)

Display

FingerNoteDegree

Chord Voicings Closest Voicing

A7♯5

Poor Butterfly in F

F major is the gateway to barre chords. While F itself requires a full barre at fret 1, the remaining diatonic chords (C, Dm, Am, G, Bb) mix open and barre shapes. The open high E acts as Fmaj7's seventh, adding unexpected richness. F is a intermediate-level key on guitar because the open high E string is the major seventh of F, creating a lush Fmaj7 resonance even in basic shapes, but the F barre chord itself is the first big hurdle for beginners. This key mixes open and barre shapes, making it a good intermediate challenge that builds fretboard fluency.

Voice Leading

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

Scales for Improvisation

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

ballad4/4 · 30 bars · Form: ABAC

Chords: Gm7, C7, FMaj7, A7♯5, D7, Em7♭5, Dm7, G7, A♯m7, D♯7, Am7, F.

Scales for Improvisation F bebop, F bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of F