Evidence in G

Thelonious Monk(1948)swingMedium
G
Instrument
GuitarUkuleleBassPiano
A
A
B
A
GMaj7
Em7
Am7
D7
GMaj7
Em7
Am7
D7
GMaj7
Em7
C7
GMaj7
Em7
Am7
D7
GMaj7
Em7
Am7
D7
GMaj7
Em7
Am7
D7
GMaj7
Em7
C7
GMaj7
Em7
Am7
D7
F7
F7
A♯7
A♯7
Am7
Am7
Am7
D7
GMaj7
Em7
Am7
D7
GMaj7
Em7
Am7
D7
GMaj7
Em7
C7
GMaj7
Em7
Am7
D7

Chord Diagrams — Evidence in G (Guitar)

Evidence in G

Monk's reharmonization of 'Just You, Just Me' with displaced rhythmic accents that give the tune its quirky, detective-like character.

Evidence in 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 G to E (descending minor third), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to C (descending whole step), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth). 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 A# to G by minor third.

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 · 32 bars · Form: AABA

Chords: GMaj7, Em7, Am7, D7, C7, F7, A♯7.