Come Rain or Come Shine in G#

Johnny Mercer / Harold Arlen(1946)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A

Chord Diagrams — Come Rain or Come Shine in G# (Guitar)

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Come Rain or Come Shine in G#

Key of G#

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 D# (descending perfect fourth), D# to C# (descending whole step), C# to G# (descending perfect fourth), G# to D# (descending perfect fourth), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to F# (descending whole step), F# to C (ascending tritone), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to A (ascending major third), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to C (descending whole step), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to F (ascending unison), F to G (ascending whole step), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to D# (descending 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 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 · 32 bars · Form: A

Chords: G♯Maj7, Gm, C7, Fm, A♯7, D♯7, G♯7, D♯m, C♯m, G♯m, D♯7♭9, G♯m6, F♯m6, Cm7♭5, F7♯9♯5, Am, D7, Cm, F7, Fm7, Gm7♭5, C7♯9, F7♯9, D♯7♯9.

Scales for Improvisation G# bebop, G# bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of G#