Blues for Alice in G

Charlie Parker(1956)blues

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

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.

blues4/4 · 25 bars · Form: A

Chords: G, B7, F♯m7, A7, Em7, G7, Dm7, C, F7, Cm7, D♯7, A♯m7, Am7, D7, E7.

Scales for Improvisation G bebop, G bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of G