A String of Pearls in G

Jerry Gray / Eddie DeLange(1941)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
D♯7/D
Am7/D

Chord Diagrams — A String of Pearls in G (Guitar)

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A String of Pearls in G

Key of G

G major is the singer-songwriter's key. The open G, B, and D strings spell out the full G major triad with zero fretting. Add the open high E for a Gadd6 shimmer. Nearly every diatonic chord (Em, Am, C, D) has a comfortable open voicing. G is a beginner-level key on guitar because the open G, B, and D strings form a complete G major triad without fretting a single note, and the open low E adds a rich 6th color. Beginners will find this key approachable since most chords use open voicings with minimal stretching.

Voice Leading

The bass line moves through D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to G (ascending unison), G to G (ascending unison), G to G (ascending unison), G to G (ascending unison), G to A (ascending whole step), A to C (ascending minor third), C to C (ascending unison), C to C (ascending unison), C to C (ascending unison), C to C (ascending unison), C to D (ascending whole step), D to D# (ascending half step), D# to A (ascending tritone). 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 A to D by perfect fourth.

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.

swing4/4 · 36 bars · Form: A

Chords: D7, G7, GMaj7, G, Gaug, G6, A7, C7, CMaj7, C, Caug, C6, D, D♯7/D, Am7/D.

Scales for Improvisation G bebop, G bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of G