Por una Cabeza in F

Carlos Gardel / Alfredo Le Pera(1935)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
D♯/F
Fm/G♯
Fm/C
G7/D
G7♭9/C♯

Chord Diagrams — Por una Cabeza in F (Guitar)

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Por una Cabeza in F

Key of 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 F to F (ascending unison), F to G (ascending whole step), G to C# (ascending tritone), C# to C (descending half step), C to C (ascending unison), C to D# (ascending minor third), D# to F (ascending whole step), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to A# (ascending unison), A# to G (descending minor third), G to F (descending whole step), F to C (descending perfect fourth), C to C# (ascending half step), C# to G# (descending perfect fourth), G# to F (descending minor third), F to F (ascending unison), F to G (ascending whole step), G to G (ascending unison). 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 G to F 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.

swing4/4 · 33 bars · Form: A

Chords: F, Fdim, Gm, C♯dim7, C, C7, D♯/F, F7, A♯, A♯m, G7, Fm, Cm, C♯, G♯, Fm/G♯, Fm/C, G7/D, G7♭9/C♯.

Scales for Improvisation F bebop, F bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of F