Bidin' My Time in G

George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin(1930)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
G/D
A/E
C/D
G/D
D7sus4

Chord Diagrams — Bidin' My Time in G (Guitar)

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Bidin' My Time 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 G to E (descending minor third), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to C (descending whole step), C to G (descending perfect fourth), G to E (descending minor third), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to G (descending whole step), G to B (ascending major third), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to F# (ascending whole step), F# to A (ascending minor third), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to E (ascending unison), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to C (ascending minor third), C to G (descending perfect fourth), G to D (descending perfect fourth). 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 G 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.

swing4/4 · 25 bars · Form: A

Chords: GMaj7, Em, Am7, D7, C/E, G, E7, Am7♭5, G/D, B7, E, F♯m7, A/E, Em7, Em7♭5, A7, C/D, G6, D7sus4.

Scales for Improvisation G bebop, G bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of G