How to practice Work with play-along tracks?

Use the play-along backing track above to practice Work in the key of G#. Listen to the audio with bass, piano, and drums, start by playing the melody, then practice improvisation and soloing over the chord changes.

What scales to use for soloing over Work?

For soloing over Work, recommended scales include: bebop, bebop major. Use arpeggio patterns over each chord to create melodic lines that follow the harmony of this jazz tune.

Work was composed by Monk Thelonious. It is a medium-swing standard in 4/4 time. The original key is Db; this page shows it transposed to G#.

The original key of Work is Db. The form is ABC with 33 bars. This page shows the chart transposed to G#.

What scales work for improvising over Work?

Recommended scales for Work in G#: bebop, bebop major. Scales and arpeggios update in real-time as each chord plays, with context-aware analysis (e.g., Phrygian Dominant over secondary dominants).

How does the interactive backing track work?

The backing track plays with realistic walking bass, drum patterns, and voice-led chord voicings. Scales and arpeggios update in real-time as each chord plays. You can limit the fretboard zone for close-proximity voicings, toggle a reference melody, loop any section, and choose between multiple sound presets. Works for guitar, piano, bass, ukulele, and 7 more instruments.

Can I edit the chord chart?

Yes. You can modify the structure, chords, and arrangement of any standard to match your preferred version or create your own reharmonization.

Do Re MiC D E

Work

Monk Thelonious4/4medium-swing

A7sus4

D♯7♭9♯5

BPM: 120

Chord Diagrams — Work in G# (Guitar)

Display

FingerNoteDegree

Chord Voicings Closest Voicing

Starting fret

Open123456789101112

A7sus4

D♯7♭9♯5

D♯ - G - B - C♯ - E

Explore More

Work in G#

Key of G#

G# major (or Ab) lives at fret 4 on the low E string. All chords require barre technique, making it less common in guitar-centric songwriting but standard in piano-driven pop. Guitarists often use a capo to access friendlier shapes. G# is a intermediate-advanced-level key on guitar because the open G string is a half step below the root, creating dissonance — avoid letting it ring. 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 C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to C (descending half step), C to B (descending half step), B to A# (descending half step), A# to A (descending half step), A to A (ascending unison), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to G (ascending unison), G to E (descending minor third), E to D# (descending half step), D# to D (descending half step). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. The predominantly stepwise bass motion creates smooth, connected voice leading. When the progression loops, the bass returns from D to G# by tritone.

Scales for Improvisation

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

medium-swing4/4 · 33 bars · Form: ABC

Chords: G♯7, C♯7, C7, B7, A♯7, A7, A7sus4, D7♭5, G7♭5, Gm7♭5, E7, D♯7♭9♯5, D.

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

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