Russian Lullaby in G

Irving Berlin(1927)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
Faug7

Chord Diagrams — Russian Lullaby in G (Guitar)

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Russian Lullaby 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 A# (ascending minor third), A# to A# (ascending unison), A# to C (ascending whole step), C to A (descending minor third), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to A# (descending major third), A# to F (descending perfect fourth), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to A# (ascending unison), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to F# (ascending minor third), F# to F (descending half step), F to D# (descending whole step), D# to D# (ascending unison), D# to D (descending half step), D to A (descending perfect fourth). 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 G by whole 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.

swing2/2 · 32 bars · Form: A

Chords: Gm, A♯aug, A♯, C7, A7, D7, A♯dim, F7, A♯6, A♯7, D♯9, F♯6, Faug7, D♯7, D♯6, D7♭9, Am7♭5.

Scales for Improvisation G bebop minor, G bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of G