Twelfth Street Rag in F#

Euday L. Bowman()swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
F♯/E
B/D♯
F♯/C♯

Chord Diagrams — Twelfth Street Rag in F# (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
C♯7
EADGBEx3241x
4frEADGBE111x346frEADGBE1114329frEADGBE111132
F♯
EADGBE111342
4frEADGBE11x2436frEADGBE1114329frEADGBE111234
G♯7
EADGBE111xx2
4frEADGBE1111326frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBE111134
F♯/E
EADGBE111342
4frEADGBE11x2436frEADGBE1114329frEADGBE111234
B/D♯
EADGBE111234
4frEADGBE111xx47frEADGBE1113429frEADGBE11x243
D7
EADGBExx213
3frEADGBEx3241x5frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111132
F♯/C♯
4frEADGBE11x243
EADGBE1113426frEADGBE1114329frEADGBE111234

Twelfth Street Rag in F#

Key of F#

F# major pushes guitarists into full barre territory at fret 2 and beyond. No open chords exist naturally, but the key rewards advanced players with dark, powerful voicings. Common in metal and progressive rock where low tunings bring it closer to standard pitch. F# is a intermediate-advanced-level key on guitar because the open B string is the 4th scale degree and the open high E is the minor 7th, both usable as color tones. Expect to rely on barre chords throughout, which builds hand strength and unlocks the entire fretboard.

Voice Leading

The bass line moves through C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to G# (ascending whole step), G# to F# (descending whole step), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to D (ascending minor third), D to F# (ascending major third). 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 C# 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 · 36 bars · Form: A

Chords: C♯7, F♯, G♯7, F♯/E, B/D♯, D7, F♯/C♯.

Scales for Improvisation F# bebop, F# bebop major.

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