Prelude in E Minor in C#

Frédéric Chopin / Mulligan(1839)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
G♯7♭9sus4
DMaj7♯11
AMaj7♯5
G♯7♭9sus4
AMaj7♯11
AMaj7♯11
G♯7♯5
C♯7♯5
AMaj7♯11
G♯7♭9sus4
AMaj7♯11
G♯7♭9sus4
G♯7♭9sus4
G♯sus4♭9

Chord Diagrams — Prelude in E Minor in C# (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
C♯m
EADGBEx4213x
4frEADGBE1113426frEADGBE1132x49frEADGBE111134
G♯7♭9sus4
G♯ - C♯ - D♯ - F♯ - A
G♯7♭9
EADGBE111x2
4frEADGBE11xx235frEADGBE11xx2310frEADGBE11x234
D7♯11
EADGBExx123
4frEADGBE11x2347frEADGBEx31429frEADGBE111234
DMaj7♯11
Dm6
EADGBExx21
3frEADGBE11x3245frEADGBEx13x249frEADGBE2222x1
C♯7♭9
EADGBE11x234
4frEADGBEx12347frEADGBE3241x9frEADGBExx1324
C♯m7
4frEADGBE111x32
5frEADGBExx23149frEADGBE11111411frEADGBExx1423
F♯7♭9
EADGBE2134
3frEADGBE11xx238frEADGBE11x23412frEADGBE3241xx
F♯m7
EADGBE111113
4frEADGBExx14239frEADGBE11113210frEADGBExx2314
F♯m6
EADGBE2222x1
4frEADGBE111x327frEADGBE11x3248frEADGBEx2413x
B9
EADGBE2222x1
4frEADGBE1114327frEADGBE1113248frEADGBExx2143
Cdim7
EADGBExx1324
EADGBE11x2347frEADGBE112x3x10frEADGBE11xx34
Bm7
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBExx23147frEADGBE1111139frEADGBE11x423
E7
EADGBE21
5frEADGBEx3241x7frEADGBE1111349frEADGBE111xx2
E7♭9
EADGBE312
4frEADGBE11346frEADGBE11x23410frEADGBE3241xx
AMaj7♯5
AMaj7
EADGBEx213
EADGBE111x45frEADGBE1114237frEADGBE333x1
AMaj7♯11
G♯7♯5
4frEADGBE1x234
6frEADGBExx14239frEADGBEx324111frEADGBE11x432
D♯m7♭5
EADGBE222xx1
6frEADGBEx1324x7frEADGBE11xx2410frEADGBE2x341x
Dm7♭5
EADGBE111xx
3frEADGBE11x3425frEADGBEx1324x8frEADGBEx1432
Ddim
EADGBExx1x2
3frEADGBEx41x235frEADGBEx1243x8frEADGBE31x42x
C♯7♯5
EADGBEx4321
4frEADGBE11x4327frEADGBE431x29frEADGBE1x234x
C♯m9
EADGBE2222x1
5frEADGBE222x147frEADGBE333x129frEADGBE111134
D♯7♭9
EADGBExx24
5frEADGBE11x2346frEADGBE11x349frEADGBE3241xx
C♯mMaj7
EADGBE11x42x
4frEADGBE1114239frEADGBE11113211frEADGBE11x342
A7
EADGBEx23
EADGBE111x25frEADGBE1111327frEADGBEx1324
C♯sus4
EADGBEx3412x
4frEADGBE1112346frEADGBE2x11149frEADGBE111234
C♯
EADGBE11x432
4frEADGBE1112346frEADGBE1113249frEADGBE111342
G♯sus4♭9

Prelude in E Minor 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 G# (descending perfect fourth), G# to G# (ascending unison), G# to D (ascending tritone), D to D (ascending unison), D to D (ascending unison), D to C# (descending half step), C# to C# (ascending unison), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to C (ascending half step), C to B (descending half step), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to E (ascending unison), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to A (ascending unison), A to A (ascending unison), A to G# (descending half step), G# to D# (descending perfect fourth), D# to D (descending half step), D to D (ascending unison), D to C# (descending half step), C# to C# (ascending unison), C# to D# (ascending whole step), D# to C# (descending whole step), C# to A (descending major third), A to C# (ascending major third), C# to C# (ascending unison), C# to G# (descending perfect fourth). 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 C# by perfect fourth.

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 · 54 bars · Form: AB

Chords: C♯m, G♯7♭9sus4, G♯7♭9, D7♯11, DMaj7♯11, Dm6, C♯7♭9, C♯m7, F♯7♭9, F♯m7, F♯m6, B9, Cdim7, Bm7, E7, E7♭9, AMaj7♯5, AMaj7, AMaj7♯11, G♯7♯5, D♯m7♭5, Dm7♭5, Ddim, C♯7♯5, C♯m9, D♯7♭9, C♯mMaj7, A7, C♯sus4, C♯, G♯sus4♭9.

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

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