'Tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do in G

Porter Grainger / Everett Robbins(1922)swing

'Tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do 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 B (ascending major third), B to G (descending major third), G to E (descending minor third), E to C# (descending minor third), C# to C (descending half step), C to D (ascending whole step), D to E (ascending whole step), E to D (descending whole step), D to A (descending perfect fourth), A to C (ascending minor third), C to A (descending minor third), A to G (descending whole step), G to A# (ascending minor third), A# to F (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 F 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.

swing4/4 · 32 bars · Form: A

Chords: G6, B7, G7, Em, C♯dim, C7, D7, E7, Daug7, A7, C, Am7, G, A♯dim, F7.

Scales for Improvisation G bebop, G bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of G