Do Re MiC D E

That Old Black Magic

Arlen Harold4/4medium-swing

Chord Diagrams — That Old Black Magic in G (Guitar)

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That Old Black Magic 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 whole step), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to B (descending minor third), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to F (ascending half step), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to G (descending minor third), G to F# (descending half step), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to C (descending major third), C to C (ascending unison), C to D (ascending whole step), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to D (ascending 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 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.

medium-swing4/4 · 66 bars · Form: ABCD

Chords: Gmaj7, Am7, D7, Bm7, E7, F7, A♯dim7, G6, F♯m7♭5, B7, Em7, C7♯11, Cm7, Dm7, G7, Cmaj7, D7sus4.

Scales for Improvisation G bebop, G bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of G