'Round Midnight in Re#

'Round Midnight in Re#

Round Midnight in D#: Monk's late-night masterpiece chains minor key areas with brooding ii-V motion. Dorian and Harmonic Minor define the tonality while Locrian shadows the half-diminished chords — play it slow and let the dissonance breathe. Chords: Gm – Gm/D – Gm/Db – Edim7 – Cm7 – F7 – Em7b5 – D#m7 – G#7 – Dm7 – G7 – A7b9 – D#7 – D7 – Am7b5.

'Round Midnight in Re#

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

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.