The Way You Look Tonight in G#

Jerome Kern Dorothy Fields()swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
F♯13
A♯m7add11
F♯13
D♯m7add11

Chord Diagrams — The Way You Look Tonight in G# (Guitar)

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The Way You Look Tonight in G#

Key of G#

G# major (or Ab) lives at fret 4 on the low E string. All chords require barre technique, making it less common in guitar-centric songwriting but standard in piano-driven pop. Guitarists often use a capo to access friendlier shapes. G# is a intermediate-advanced-level key on guitar because the open G string is a half step below the root, creating dissonance — avoid letting it ring. Expect to rely on barre chords throughout, which builds hand strength and unlocks the entire fretboard.

Voice Leading

The bass line moves through G# to F (descending minor third), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), 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 G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to D (ascending tritone), D to G# (ascending tritone), G# to A# (ascending whole step), A# to C# (ascending minor third), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to C (ascending half step), C to D# (ascending minor third), D# to D (descending half step), D to F# (ascending major third), F# to E (descending whole step), E to A# (ascending tritone), A# to C# (ascending minor third). 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 C# 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 · 49 bars · Form: AB

Chords: G♯Maj7, Fm7, A♯m7, D♯7, F♯13, F7, D♯m7add11, G♯7, DMaj7, G♯6, A♯m9, C♯m7, F♯7, BMaj7, Cdim7, D♯m7, Ddim7, F♯9, EMaj7, A♯m7add11, C♯Maj7.

Scales for Improvisation G# bebop, G# bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of G#