Blues For Alice in Sol#

Blues For Alice in Sol#

Blues for Alice in G#: Bird's reharmonized blues subs rapid ii-V motion through every bar. Bebop Major and Major Blues scales navigate the descending cycle — Mixolydian anchors the tonic bars. Chords: G#Maj7 – Gm7b5 – C7b9 – Fm7 – A#7 – D#m7 – G#7 – C#7 – C#m7 – F#7 – Cm7 – F7 – Bm7 – E7 – A#m7 – D#7.

Blues For Alice in Sol#

G# major (or Ab) lives at fret 4 on the low E string. All chords require barre technique, making it less common in guitar-centric songwriting but standard in piano-driven pop. Guitarists often use a capo to access friendlier shapes. G# is a intermediate-advanced-level key on guitar because the open G string is a half step below the root, creating dissonance — avoid letting it ring. Expect to rely on barre chords throughout, which builds hand strength and unlocks the entire fretboard.

Voice Leading

The bass line moves through G# to G (descending half step), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to C# (ascending unison), 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). 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 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.