Misty in G

Erroll Garner / Johnny Burke(1954)ballad
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
F13
C♯m11
F13

Chord Diagrams — Misty in G (Guitar)

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

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.

ballad4/4 · 27 bars · Form: AB

Chords: GMaj7, G7, Dm9, C, F13, Cm9, Em7, D7, Am7, E7, Bm7, Cm6, G, G6, Dm7, G7♭9, CMaj7, C6, C♯m11, F♯7, Gdim.

Scales for Improvisation G bebop, G bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of G