Do Re MiC D E

Bourbon Street Parade

Barbarin Paul4/4medium-up-swing
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Chord Diagrams — Bourbon Street Parade in G (Guitar)

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Bourbon Street Parade 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 D (descending perfect fourth), D to C (descending whole step), C to C# (ascending half step), C# to G (ascending tritone), G to E (descending minor third), E to A (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 A to G 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.

medium-up-swing4/4 · 32 bars · Form: ABAC

Chords: G, D7, C, C♯dim7, G/E♭, E7, A7.

Scales for Improvisation G bebop, G bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of G