The Midnight Sun Never Sets in G

Quincey Jones / Henri Salvador(1959)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B

Chord Diagrams — The Midnight Sun Never Sets in G (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree

The Midnight Sun Never Sets 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 B (ascending whole step), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to C (ascending minor third), C to D (ascending whole step), D to D (ascending unison), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to F# (descending half step), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to G (descending whole step), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to C (ascending whole step), C to G# (descending major third), G# to F (descending minor third), F to D# (descending whole step), D# to D (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 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.

swing4/4 · 27 bars · Form: AB

Chords: GMaj7, A, Bm7, E7, Am7, CMaj7, D7, Dm7, G7, F♯m7♭5, B7, Em7, A7, Gm7, C7, FMaj7, A♯7, Cm, G♯, F7, D♯7, Daug.

Scales for Improvisation G bebop, G bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of G