Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin' in G

Joe Greene(1966)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
D7♯5
D7♯5

Chord Diagrams — Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin' in G (Guitar)

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Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin' 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 A (ascending whole step), A to G (descending whole step), G to D (descending perfect fourth), D to A (descending perfect fourth), A to G (descending whole step), G to F (descending whole step), F to C (descending perfect fourth), C to C# (ascending half step), C# to C (descending half step), C to D (ascending whole step), D to F# (ascending major third), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to A (descending whole step), A to B (ascending whole step), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. The predominantly stepwise bass motion creates smooth, connected voice leading. 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 · 29 bars · Form: AB

Chords: G6, Am7, Gdim, D7, Am9, GMaj7, FMaj7, C7, C♯dim, Cm6, D7♭9, F♯7, Bm7, Am6, B7, E7, A7, D7♯5.

Scales for Improvisation G bebop, G bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of G