Song For My Father in G

Horace Silver(1964)afro-cubanAfro-Cuban ♩= 138
Do Re MiC D E
G
Instrument
GuitarUkuleleBassPiano
A
A
B
A
Gm7
F7
D♯7
D7
Gm7
F7
D♯7
D7
Gm7
F7
D♯7
D7
Gm7
F7
D♯7
D7
A♯maj7
A♯maj7
D♯maj7
D♯maj7
Am7♭5
D7
Gm7
D♯7
D7
Gm7
Gm7
F7
D♯7
D7
Gm7
F7
D♯7
D7

Chord Diagrams — Song For My Father in G (Guitar)

Song For My Father in G

Horace Silver (Blue Note, 1964) rinde homenaje a su padre cabo-verdiano con un montuno de cuatro acordes que desciende cromáticamente: Fm7–Eb7–Db7–C7. Este ostinato de 4 compases, repetido sin descanso, es uno de los grooves más copiados del jazz. Steely Dan lo usó como base de 'Rikki Don't Lose That Number'.

Song For My Father 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 F (descending whole step), F to D# (descending whole step), D# to D (descending half step), D to A# (descending major third), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to A (ascending tritone). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. The mix of stepwise and leap motion balances smoothness with harmonic drive. When the progression loops, the bass returns from A to G by whole 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.

afro-cuban4/4 · 32 bars · Form: AABA

Chords: Gm7, F7, D♯7, D7, A♯maj7, D♯maj7, Am7♭5.