Ruby, My Dear in C

Thelonius Monk(1945)ballad
Do Re MiC D E
A
B

Chord Diagrams — Ruby, My Dear in C (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
Fm
EADGBE111134
3frEADGBExx13428frEADGBE11134210frEADGBE1142xx
A♯7♭9
EADGBEx123
4frEADGBE3241xx6frEADGBE111x2312frEADGBE11x234
D♯Maj7
EADGBE11333x
3frEADGBE111x436frEADGBE1113248frEADGBE111xx4
Gm
EADGBE2134
3frEADGBE1111345frEADGBExx134210frEADGBE111342
C7♭9
EADGBE11x234
6frEADGBE3241xx8frEADGBE111x239frEADGBExx3142
FMaj7
EADGBExx321
EADGBE1114233frEADGBE11x3338frEADGBE111324
G♯m
4frEADGBE111134
6frEADGBExx13427frEADGBExx324111frEADGBE111342
Am
EADGBEx231
2frEADGBE444x15frEADGBE1111347frEADGBEx1342
A♯m
EADGBE11x342
6frEADGBE1111346frEADGBE111xx38frEADGBExx1342
D♯7♭9
EADGBExx24
5frEADGBE11x2346frEADGBE11x349frEADGBE3241xx
G♯Maj7
4frEADGBE111423
6frEADGBE11x3339frEADGBEx3241x11frEADGBE111324
Cm
EADGBEx3214
3frEADGBE1113425frEADGBE1142xx8frEADGBE111134
F7
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBE11x3248frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111xx2
A6
EADGBE1111x
4frEADGBE2x143x5frEADGBE113x2410frEADGBEx4231x
Bm/E
EADGBE111342
7frEADGBE1111349frEADGBExx134210frEADGBExx3241
A♯aug7
EADGBE11x432
6frEADGBE1x234x8frEADGBExx142312frEADGBEx213x4
E7
EADGBE21
5frEADGBEx3241x7frEADGBE1111349frEADGBE111xx2
AMaj7
EADGBEx213
EADGBE111x45frEADGBE1114237frEADGBE333x1
F♯m
EADGBE111134
4frEADGBE11x3425frEADGBExx32419frEADGBE111342
Bm
EADGBE111342
7frEADGBE1111349frEADGBExx134210frEADGBExx3241
E7♭9
EADGBE312
4frEADGBE11346frEADGBE11x23410frEADGBE3241xx
A♯6
EADGBE3333x1
5frEADGBE21346frEADGBE113x2410frEADGBEx4231x
Bdim7
EADGBE11x234
EADGBExx13246frEADGBE3x142x7frEADGBE111234
CmMaj7
EADGBEx31x
3frEADGBE1114238frEADGBE11113210frEADGBExx1342
Dm
EADGBExx231
5frEADGBE1113426frEADGBEx4231x10frEADGBE111134
D♯m
EADGBExx1342
EADGBExx32416frEADGBE11134211frEADGBE111134
G♯7
EADGBE111xx2
4frEADGBE1111326frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBE111134
D♯7♯9
EADGBExx234
5frEADGBEx2134x8frEADGBE111x2310frEADGBE2134xx
A6/E
EADGBE1111x
4frEADGBE2x143x5frEADGBE113x2410frEADGBEx4231x
F♯Maj7
EADGBE111423
4frEADGBE11x3336frEADGBE111x439frEADGBE111324
B7♭9
EADGBE11x234
5frEADGBE3241xx7frEADGBE111x238frEADGBE11xx23
A♯m7
EADGBE111x32
EADGBExx23146frEADGBE1111138frEADGBE11x423

Ruby, My Dear 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 F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to G (ascending major third), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to G# (ascending minor third), G# to A (ascending half step), A to A# (ascending half step), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C (ascending major third), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to A (ascending major third), A to B (ascending whole step), B to A# (descending half step), A# to E (ascending tritone), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to F# (descending minor third), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A# (ascending tritone), A# to B (ascending half step), B to C (ascending half step), C to D (ascending whole step), D to D# (ascending half step), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to D# (descending perfect fourth), D# to A (ascending tritone), A to F# (descending minor third), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to A# (descending half step). 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 F 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.

ballad4/4 · 28 bars · Form: AB

Chords: Fm, A♯7♭9, D♯Maj7, Gm, C7♭9, FMaj7, G♯m, Am, A♯m, D♯7♭9, G♯Maj7, Cm, F7, A6, Bm/E, A♯aug7, E7, AMaj7, F♯m, Bm, E7♭9, A♯6, Bdim7, CmMaj7, Dm, D♯m, G♯7, D♯7♯9, A6/E, F♯Maj7, B7♭9, A♯m7.

Scales for Improvisation C bebop, C bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of C