Prelude to a Kiss in G

Duke Ellington / Irving Gordon / Irving Mills(1938)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B

Chord Diagrams — Prelude to a Kiss in G (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
A9
2frEADGBE431
EADGBE11x325frEADGBE11132411frEADGBE2222x1
D9
4frEADGBE222221
7frEADGBEx12349frEADGBE11234x10frEADGBE111324
G7
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE1111325frEADGBE11x32410frEADGBE111134
CMaj7
EADGBE231
3frEADGBE1113245frEADGBE111xx410frEADGBE333xx1
F♯9
EADGBE111324
3frEADGBExx21438frEADGBE22222111frEADGBE1111x2
B9
EADGBE2222x1
4frEADGBE1114327frEADGBE1113248frEADGBExx2143
E7
EADGBE21
5frEADGBEx3241x7frEADGBE1111349frEADGBE111xx2
Am7
EADGBEx21
EADGBEx23145frEADGBE1111137frEADGBE11x423
Am7add11
A - C - E - G - D
D7
EADGBExx213
3frEADGBEx3241x5frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111132
D♯dim7
EADGBExx1324
5frEADGBE11x2347frEADGBExx132410frEADGBE112x3x
Em7
EADGBE2
EADGBE114237frEADGBE1111328frEADGBExx2314
A13
EADGBEx123
3frEADGBE42315frEADGBE11132411frEADGBE44x213
D7♭9
2frEADGBExx431
4frEADGBE11x2345frEADGBE11x248frEADGBE3241xx
G
EADGBE213
3frEADGBE1113425frEADGBE11x2437frEADGBE111432
Bm7
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBExx23147frEADGBE1111139frEADGBE11x423
C♯m7
4frEADGBE111x32
5frEADGBExx23149frEADGBE11111411frEADGBExx1423
F♯7
EADGBE111132
4frEADGBE11x3247frEADGBEx3241x9frEADGBE111134
BMaj7
EADGBE111324
4frEADGBE111xx47frEADGBE1114239frEADGBE11333x
G♯m7
4frEADGBE111113
6frEADGBE11x4239frEADGBE11x23x11frEADGBE111132
C♯m7♭5
4frEADGBEx1324x
5frEADGBE11xx248frEADGBE2x341x11frEADGBE222xx1
B7
EADGBEx2134
EADGBE1111344frEADGBE111xx27frEADGBE111132
Am11
EADGBEx1
3frEADGBE1113425frEADGBE11111410frEADGBE11x234
A♯m11
4frEADGBE111342
6frEADGBE1111148frEADGBE11xx2311frEADGBE11x234
Bm11
EADGBEx123
5frEADGBE1113427frEADGBE1111149frEADGBE1122xx
A♯9
EADGBEx1234
5frEADGBE11234x6frEADGBE11132412frEADGBE2222x1

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

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 · 26 bars · Form: AB

Chords: A9, D9, G7, CMaj7, F♯9, B9, E7, Am7, Am7add11, D7, D♯dim7, Em7, A13, D7♭9, G, Bm7, C♯m7, F♯7, BMaj7, G♯m7, C♯m7♭5, B7, Am11, A♯m11, Bm11, A♯9.

Scales for Improvisation G bebop, G bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of G