Prelude in E Minor in F

Frédéric Chopin / Mulligan(1839)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
C7♭9sus4
F♯Maj7♯11
C♯Maj7♯5
C7♭9sus4
C♯Maj7♯11
C♯Maj7♯11
C7♯5
F7♯5
C♯Maj7♯11
C7♭9sus4
C♯Maj7♯11
C7♭9sus4
C7♭9sus4
Csus4♭9

Chord Diagrams — Prelude in E Minor in F (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
Fm
EADGBE111134
3frEADGBExx13428frEADGBE11134210frEADGBE1142xx
C7♭9sus4
C - F - G - B♭ - D♭
C7♭9
EADGBE11x234
6frEADGBE3241xx8frEADGBE111x239frEADGBExx3142
F♯7♯11
EADGBE111234
4frEADGBExx12348frEADGBE11x2349frEADGBE111x23
F♯Maj7♯11
F♯m6
EADGBE2222x1
4frEADGBE111x327frEADGBE11x3248frEADGBEx2413x
F7♭9
EADGBE111423
EADGBE11xx237frEADGBE11x23411frEADGBE3241xx
Fm7
EADGBE111113
3frEADGBExx14238frEADGBE1111329frEADGBExx2314
A♯7♭9
EADGBEx123
4frEADGBE3241xx6frEADGBE111x2312frEADGBE11x234
A♯m7
EADGBE111x32
EADGBExx23146frEADGBE1111138frEADGBE11x423
A♯m6
EADGBEx13x24
3frEADGBEx2314x5frEADGBE2222x16frEADGBE111234
D♯9
EADGBExx132
5frEADGBE2222x110frEADGBE3142xx11frEADGBE111324
Edim7
EADGBE123
EADGBExx13246frEADGBEx2314x11frEADGBE112x3x
D♯m7
EADGBExx1423
6frEADGBE1111327frEADGBExx231411frEADGBE111114
G♯7
EADGBE111xx2
4frEADGBE1111326frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBE111134
G♯7♭9
EADGBE111x2
4frEADGBE11xx235frEADGBE11xx2310frEADGBE11x234
C♯Maj7♯5
C♯Maj7
EADGBE111x43
4frEADGBE1113246frEADGBE11xxx39frEADGBE1x342x
C♯Maj7♯11
C7♯5
EADGBEx213x4
3frEADGBE11x4328frEADGBE1x23410frEADGBExx1423
Gm7♭5
EADGBE3xx421
EADGBE2x341x5frEADGBE222xx110frEADGBEx1324x
F♯m7♭5
EADGBE2341
4frEADGBE222xx19frEADGBEx1324x10frEADGBE11xx24
F♯dim
EADGBE2x31x
4frEADGBExx12x37frEADGBEx41x239frEADGBEx1243x
F7♯5
EADGBE1234x
3frEADGBExx14238frEADGBE11x43212frEADGBE213x4x
Fm9
EADGBE111134
EADGBEx12346frEADGBE2222x111frEADGBE22221
G7♭9
EADGBE11324
EADGBE111x234frEADGBE11xx239frEADGBE11x234
FmMaj7
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBExx13428frEADGBE11142312frEADGBExx4231
C♯7
EADGBEx3241x
4frEADGBE111x346frEADGBE1114329frEADGBE111132
Fsus4
EADGBE111234
3frEADGBExx12348frEADGBE11123410frEADGBE11xx2x
F
EADGBE111342
3frEADGBE11x2435frEADGBE1114328frEADGBE111234
Csus4♭9

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

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 · 54 bars · Form: AB

Chords: Fm, C7♭9sus4, C7♭9, F♯7♯11, F♯Maj7♯11, F♯m6, F7♭9, Fm7, A♯7♭9, A♯m7, A♯m6, D♯9, Edim7, D♯m7, G♯7, G♯7♭9, C♯Maj7♯5, C♯Maj7, C♯Maj7♯11, C7♯5, Gm7♭5, F♯m7♭5, F♯dim, F7♯5, Fm9, G7♭9, FmMaj7, C♯7, Fsus4, F, Csus4♭9.

Scales for Improvisation F bebop minor, F bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of F