Do Re MiC D E

Ask Me Now

Thelonious Monk(1978)4/4ballad

Chord Diagrams — Ask Me Now in G (Guitar)

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

ballad4/4 · 32 bars · Form: A

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

Scales for Improvisation G bebop, G bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of G