Stormy Weather in G

Harold Arlen(1933)balladSlowly
Do Re MiC D E
A
A
B
A

Chord Diagrams — Stormy Weather in G (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree

Stormy Weather in G

Harold Arlen's torch-song standard blends blues and jazz harmony, drawing Dorian and Blues language into a deeply expressive G setting. Bebop Major lines add forward motion and brightness against the inherently dark emotional weight. Work through the G – G#dim7 – Am7 – D9 – E7 – D7#5b9 – C – Bm7 – D7b9 – Dm7 – G7 – A – CMaj7 – GMaj7 – C#dim7 – B7 – Em7 – A7 – D7 changes to develop seamless transition between blues intensity and swinging forward drive.

Stormy Weather in 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 half step), G# to A (ascending half step), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to E (ascending whole step), E to D (descending whole step), D to C (descending whole step), C to B (descending half step), B to D (ascending minor third), D to D (ascending unison), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to A (ascending whole step), A to C (ascending minor third), C to G (descending perfect fourth), G to C# (ascending tritone), C# to B (descending whole step), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. The mix of stepwise and leap motion balances smoothness with harmonic drive. When the progression loops, the bass returns from D to G 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.

ballad2/2 · 49 bars · Form: AABA

Chords: G, G♯dim7, Am7, D9, E7, D7♯5♭9, C, Bm7, D7♭9, Dm7, G7, A, CMaj7, GMaj7, C♯dim7, B7, Em7, A7, D7.

Scales for Improvisation G bebop, G bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of G