Only Trust Your Heart in G

Benny Carter / Sammy Cahn(1964)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
Em/B
Am7/G
Am9/D

Chord Diagrams — Only Trust Your Heart in G (Guitar)

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Only Trust Your Heart 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 F# (ascending tritone), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to D (descending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C# (ascending tritone), C# to C (descending half step), C to E (ascending major third), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to A (ascending unison), A to F# (descending minor third), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to F (ascending tritone), F to E (descending half step), E to C (descending major third), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to E (descending half step), E to D# (descending half step), D# to A (ascending tritone), A to G (descending whole 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 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.

swing4/4 · 33 bars · Form: AB

Chords: CMaj7, F♯7♯9, Bm7, Em7, Am7, D7, GMaj7, Dm7, G7, C♯7♭5, C, Em/B, Am, Am7/G, F♯m7♭5, B7, F7♭5, E7, Cm7, F7, E7♭9, D♯7♭5, Am9/D, G.

Scales for Improvisation G bebop, G bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of G