Ask Me Now in G

Thelonious Monk(1978)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A

Chord Diagrams — Ask Me Now in G (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree

Ask Me Now 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 C# (ascending tritone), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to C (ascending tritone), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to B (ascending tritone), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A# (ascending tritone), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to F# (ascending minor third), F# to A# (ascending major third), A# to A (descending half step), A to G# (descending half step), G# to B (ascending minor third), B to G# (descending minor third), G# to F (descending minor third), F to G# (ascending minor third), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth). 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 C# to D 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 · 32 bars · Form: A

Chords: Dm7, G7, C♯m7, F♯7, Cm7, F7, Bm7, E7, A♯m7, D♯7, F♯7♭5, A♯7, A7, G♯Maj7, B7, G♯, Fm7, G♯m7, C♯7.

Scales for Improvisation G bebop, G bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of G