sethb - Posted - 05/02/2026:  10:15:48

I've visiting from the 4-string forum, and I'm trying to suss out the names of three chords in a piece of sheet music. 

I'm working from the 1930 sheet music for "There's Danger in Your Eyes, Cherie."  The chord changes  are shown as fingering diagrams in CGEA uke tuning, but not the chord symbols themselves.  I've been able to match up most of the chord names using a CGEA fingering chart, but three chords have eluded me.  Based on the diagrams and the CGEA tuning, the chord notes are G-Eb-G-B, G-C#-E-Bb, and A-Eb-F-A.  With that info, can someone tell me what the names of these chords are? 

Thanks in advance for your help with this!  SETH   

Old Hickory - Posted - 05/02/2026:  12:36:06

First step is usually to arrange notes in alphabetical order (which should usually result in an every-other-letter sequence). Sow we get:

E-flat - G- B  =  E-flat augmented triad

E-flat- G-flat- B-flat - D-flat (changing your C# to D-flat) = E-flat minor 7th flat 5 

F - A - E-flat - are three of the four notes in F7  (F dominant 7)

What is the key? Where in the progression do these chords occur?

sethb - Posted - 05/02/2026:  13:50:17

Thanks for supplying the chord names, I'll give them a try and see how it sounds!  

To answer your questions, the key is C, and the first chord progression is C, Ebm7, G7, Eb+ and C.  The second progression (actually the second ending) is C, F7, C.   SETH

Old Hickory - Posted - 05/02/2026:  14:16:32

I found a YouTube video with on-screen notation and CGAE chord diagrams that I assume is your source. And saw there were no sharps or flats, so key of C.

I think the chords in these types of arrangements tend to track the melody more than might be needed for a simple accompaninent. And some chords -- especially 7ths -- are there to help lead to the next chord change (often by being the "five" of the next chord). So use your ear to decide if you can do without some of them.

Of course, if the original period sound is what you're after, then play all the chords.

Small theory lesson:  a V dominant 7 can often substitute for the vii minor 7 flat 5.  In particular when the following chord is the I.   But with this song being in the key of C, the function of the chord I identified as  E-flat minor 7 flat 5 is a puzzle to me.  E-flat is not diatonic to the key of C.  All the notes in that chord are outisde C, so I don't know what's going on.

I think I named the chords correctly. Or, rather, I think Google named them correctly.

Good luck.