Caravan in G

Duke Ellington / Juan Tizol(1936)afro-cubanLatin/Swing ♩= 152
Do Re MiC D E
G
Instrument
GuitarUkuleleBassPiano
A
A
B
A
D7♭9
D7♭9
D7♭9
D7♭9
D7♭9
D7♭9
D7♭9
Gm6
D7♭9
D7♭9
D7♭9
D7♭9
D7♭9
D7♭9
D7♭9
Gm6
C7
C7
Fmaj7
Fmaj7
A♯maj7
A♯maj7
Am7♭5
D7♭9
Gm6
D7♭9
D7♭9
D7♭9
D7♭9
D7♭9
D7♭9
D7♭9
Gm6

Chord Diagrams — Caravan in G (Guitar)

Caravan in G

Juan Tizol (trombonista portorriqueño) y Duke Ellington crearon este clásico de 1936 que lleva el sonido afrocubano al jazz de big band. La sección A es pura tensión: siete compases de dominante C7b9 que no resuelven hasta el último instante en Fm6. El puente B, de swing puro, viaja a Bb7→Ebmaj7→Abmaj7 antes del regreso.

Caravan 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 D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to A (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 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.

afro-cuban4/4 · 32 bars · Form: AABA

Chords: D7♭9, Gm6, C7, Fmaj7, A♯maj7, Am7♭5.