Do Re MiC D E

Just the Two of Us

Bill Withers / Ralph MacDonald / William Salter(1980)4/4swing

Chord Diagrams — Just the Two of Us in G (Guitar)

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Just the Two of Us 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 D to D# (ascending half step), D# to A# (descending perfect fourth), A# to F (descending perfect fourth), F to G (ascending whole step), G to D (descending perfect fourth), D to D (ascending unison), D to C (descending whole step), C to C (ascending unison), C to C# (ascending half step), C# to A# (descending minor third), A# to B (ascending half step), B to G# (descending minor third), G# to A (ascending half step), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to F# (ascending major third). 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 D by major 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 · 24 bars · Form: A

Chords: D7♯5, D♯Maj7, A♯7, Fm7, Gm7, D7, D7sus4, C7, C7sus4, C♯Maj7, A♯7sus4, BMaj7, G♯69, A7♭9, D7♯9, F♯m7.

Scales for Improvisation G bebop minor, G bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of G