Good Bait in G

Tadd Dameron / Count Basie(1944)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
G7/B
F9♯11
D7♭9♯9♭5♯5
C7/E
A♯9♯11
D♯13
D13

Chord Diagrams — Good Bait in G (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree

Good Bait 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 E (descending minor third), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to B (descending minor third), B to G (descending major third), G to G (ascending unison), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to G (descending minor third), G to D (descending perfect fourth), D to C (descending whole step), C to D (ascending whole step), D to C (descending whole step), C to C (ascending unison), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to D# (ascending unison), D# to D (descending half step), D to F (ascending minor third), F to E (descending half 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.

swing4/4 · 26 bars · Form: AB

Chords: G6, Em7, Am7, D7, Bm7, G7, G7/B, CMaj7, F9♯11, A♯m7, GMaj7, D7♭9♯9♭5♯5, C6, Dm7, C7, C7/E, FMaj7, A♯9♯11, D♯m7, D♯13, D13, F7, E7.

Scales for Improvisation G bebop, G bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of G