I Remember Clifford in G

Benny Golson(1957)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A

Chord Diagrams — I Remember Clifford in G (Guitar)

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I Remember Clifford 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 C to D (ascending whole step), D to B (descending minor third), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to D (descending whole step), D to C (descending whole step), C to A# (descending whole step), A# to A (descending half step), A to A (ascending unison), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C# (ascending tritone), C# to D (ascending half step), D to D# (ascending half step), D# to E (ascending half step), E to C# (descending minor third), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to B (ascending unison), B to G# (descending minor third), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to B (descending whole step), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to F# (ascending whole step). 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 F# to C by tritone.

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 · 38 bars · Form: A

Chords: C, D9, B7, Em7, Dm7, Cm7, A♯m7, Am7, Am7/D, D7♭9, G, C♯dim, D7, D♯dim, Em7/D, C♯m7♭5, F♯7, Bm7, Bm7/A, G♯m7♭5, C♯7, Bm7♭5, E7, F♯m7♭5.

Scales for Improvisation G bebop, G bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of G