Prince Albert in C

Kenny Dorham(1955)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
G♯7♯9♯5

Chord Diagrams — Prince Albert in C (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
G♯7♯9♯5
G♯ - C - E - F♯ - B
G7♯9
EADGBE3241
3frEADGBE1144324frEADGBE44x2319frEADGBEx2134x
Cm
EADGBEx3214
3frEADGBE1113425frEADGBE1142xx8frEADGBE111134
Fm
EADGBE111134
3frEADGBExx13428frEADGBE11134210frEADGBE1142xx
A♯7
EADGBE111x34
6frEADGBE1111328frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBEx3241x
D♯Maj7
EADGBE11333x
3frEADGBE111x436frEADGBE1113248frEADGBE111xx4
G♯Maj7
4frEADGBE111423
6frEADGBE11x3339frEADGBEx3241x11frEADGBE111324
Am
EADGBEx231
2frEADGBE444x15frEADGBE1111347frEADGBEx1342
D7♯9
4frEADGBEx2134x
7frEADGBE4127frEADGBE111x2310frEADGBE111324
GMaj7
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE1114235frEADGBE11333x10frEADGBE11x324
Gm
EADGBE2134
3frEADGBE1111345frEADGBExx134210frEADGBE111342
F7
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBE11x3248frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111xx2
A♯Maj7
EADGBE11x324
3frEADGBE111xx46frEADGBE1114238frEADGBE11333x
Em
EADGBE23
2frEADGBE113427frEADGBE1113429frEADGBE4312xx
A7♯9
5frEADGBE114432
6frEADGBExx21348frEADGBEx421311frEADGBEx2134x
DMaj7
EADGBE111xx
2frEADGBE111x435frEADGBE1113247frEADGBE111xx4
B7♯9
EADGBEx2134x
5frEADGBE32417frEADGBE1144328frEADGBExx2134
A7♭9
EADGBE11x23
5frEADGBE1114236frEADGBE11xx2311frEADGBE11x234
C♯m
EADGBEx4213x
4frEADGBE1113426frEADGBE1132x49frEADGBE111134
F♯7♯9
EADGBE222221
2frEADGBE1113243frEADGBExx21348frEADGBEx2134x
BMaj7
EADGBE111324
4frEADGBE111xx47frEADGBE1114239frEADGBE11333x
G♯m
4frEADGBE111134
6frEADGBExx13427frEADGBExx324111frEADGBE111342
F♯m
EADGBE111134
4frEADGBE11x3425frEADGBExx32419frEADGBE111342
A♯7♯9
EADGBEx123x
6frEADGBE1144327frEADGBExx213412frEADGBEx2134x
Dm7♭5
EADGBE111xx
3frEADGBE11x3425frEADGBEx1324x8frEADGBEx1432

Prince Albert 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 G# to G (descending half step), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to A (ascending half step), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), 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 E (ascending tritone), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to B (descending minor third), B to A (descending whole step), A to C# (ascending major third), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to G# (descending minor third), G# to F# (descending whole step), F# to A# (ascending major third), A# to D (ascending major third). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. 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 D to G# by tritone.

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 · 42 bars · Form: AB

Chords: G♯7♯9♯5, G7♯9, Cm, Fm, A♯7, D♯Maj7, G♯Maj7, Am, D7♯9, GMaj7, Gm, F7, A♯Maj7, Em, A7♯9, DMaj7, B7♯9, A7♭9, C♯m, F♯7♯9, BMaj7, G♯m, F♯m, A♯7♯9, Dm7♭5.

Scales for Improvisation C bebop minor, C bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of C