Sweet Lorraine in G

Cliff Burwell / Mitchell Parish(1928)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B

Chord Diagrams — Sweet Lorraine in G (Guitar)

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

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 · 27 bars · Form: AB

Chords: E7, F7, G, B7, F♯m7♭5, Am7, G7, Dm7, Em7, C7, D7, Bm7, C, Am, F, D♯7.

Scales for Improvisation G bebop, G bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of G