Prince Albert in D#

Kenny Dorham(1955)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
B7♯9♯5

Chord Diagrams — Prince Albert in D# (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
B7♯9♯5
B - D♯ - G - A - D
A♯7♯9
EADGBEx123x
6frEADGBE1144327frEADGBExx213412frEADGBEx2134x
D♯m
EADGBExx1342
EADGBExx32416frEADGBE11134211frEADGBE111134
G♯m
4frEADGBE111134
6frEADGBExx13427frEADGBExx324111frEADGBE111342
C♯7
EADGBEx3241x
4frEADGBE111x346frEADGBE1114329frEADGBE111132
F♯Maj7
EADGBE111423
4frEADGBE11x3336frEADGBE111x439frEADGBE111324
BMaj7
EADGBE111324
4frEADGBE111xx47frEADGBE1114239frEADGBE11333x
Cm
EADGBEx3214
3frEADGBE1113425frEADGBE1142xx8frEADGBE111134
F7♯9
EADGBE111324
EADGBExx21347frEADGBEx2134x10frEADGBE111x23
A♯Maj7
EADGBE11x324
3frEADGBE111xx46frEADGBE1114238frEADGBE11333x
A♯m
EADGBE11x342
6frEADGBE1111346frEADGBE111xx38frEADGBExx1342
G♯7
EADGBE111xx2
4frEADGBE1111326frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBE111134
C♯Maj7
EADGBE111x43
4frEADGBE1113246frEADGBE11xxx39frEADGBE1x342x
Gm
EADGBE2134
3frEADGBE1111345frEADGBExx134210frEADGBE111342
C7♯9
EADGBEx2134x
3frEADGBE11x328frEADGBE1113249frEADGBExx2134
FMaj7
EADGBExx321
EADGBE1114233frEADGBE11x3338frEADGBE111324
D7♯9
4frEADGBEx2134x
7frEADGBE4127frEADGBE111x2310frEADGBE111324
C7♭9
EADGBE11x234
6frEADGBE3241xx8frEADGBE111x239frEADGBExx3142
Em
EADGBE23
2frEADGBE113427frEADGBE1113429frEADGBE4312xx
A7♯9
5frEADGBE114432
6frEADGBExx21348frEADGBEx421311frEADGBEx2134x
DMaj7
EADGBE111xx
2frEADGBE111x435frEADGBE1113247frEADGBE111xx4
Bm
EADGBE111342
7frEADGBE1111349frEADGBExx134210frEADGBExx3241
Am
EADGBEx231
2frEADGBE444x15frEADGBE1111347frEADGBEx1342
C♯7♯9
EADGBEx3241
3frEADGBEx2134x8frEADGBE2222x19frEADGBE111324
Fm7♭5
EADGBE1x23x
EADGBE222xx18frEADGBEx1324x11frEADGBE2134x

Prince Albert in D#

Key of D#

D# major (Eb) requires barre shapes rooted on the 6th and 5th strings. It is a favorite key for horn players, so guitarists encounter it in funk and soul bands. Using barre chords at frets 1, 3, and 6 covers the primary shapes. D# is a intermediate-advanced-level key on guitar because no standard open strings match this key's chord tones. Expect to rely on barre chords throughout, which builds hand strength and unlocks the entire fretboard.

Voice Leading

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

Scales for Improvisation

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

swing4/4 · 42 bars · Form: AB

Chords: B7♯9♯5, A♯7♯9, D♯m, G♯m, C♯7, F♯Maj7, BMaj7, Cm, F7♯9, A♯Maj7, A♯m, G♯7, C♯Maj7, Gm, C7♯9, FMaj7, D7♯9, C7♭9, Em, A7♯9, DMaj7, Bm, Am, C♯7♯9, Fm7♭5.

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

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