The Way You Look Tonight in F

Jerome Kern Dorothy Fields()swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
D♯13
Cm7add11
D♯13
Gm7add11
D♯13
Cm7add11

Chord Diagrams — The Way You Look Tonight in F (Guitar)

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The Way You Look Tonight 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 D (descending minor third), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to D# (ascending minor third), D# to D (descending half step), D to C (descending whole step), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to B (ascending tritone), B to F (ascending tritone), F to G (ascending whole step), G to A# (ascending minor third), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to A (ascending half step), A to C (ascending minor third), C to B (descending half step), B to D# (ascending major third), D# to C# (descending whole step), C# to G (ascending tritone), G to A# (ascending minor 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 A# 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 · 49 bars · Form: AB

Chords: FMaj7, Dm7, Gm7, C7, D♯13, D7, Cm7add11, F7, BMaj7, F6, Gm9, A♯m7, D♯7, G♯Maj7, Adim7, Cm7, Bdim7, D♯9, C♯Maj7, Gm7add11, A♯Maj7.

Scales for Improvisation F bebop, F bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of F