What key is Come Rain Or Come Shine in?

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

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 · 32 bars · Form: AB

Chords: FaMaj7, Sim7♭5, Mim7♭5, La7♭9, Rem7, Sol9, Solm7, Do7, Fa7, Dom7, La♯m7, Fam, La♯m, Solm7♭5, Do7♭5, Do75, Do7♯5, Rem7♭5, Sol7♭9, Dom, Re♯m7, Lam7, Do♯m7♭5, Fa♯m7, Si7, La7, La♯7, Re7, Re♯Maj7, Sol7, Sol♯9, Sol7/f.

Scales for Improvisation Fa bebop, Fa bebop major.