What key is Love For Sale in?

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

swing2/2 · 64 bars · Form: AABA'

Chords: Do♯7, Sol♯m, Do♯m7, Fa♯7, Si7, Mi7, La♯m7♭5, Re♯7♯5, Sol♯m7, SiMaj7, Re♯m7♭5, Sol♯7, Do♯m, Fam7♭5, La♯7, Sol♯7♭9.

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