What Is This Thing Called Love in Sol#

What Is This Thing Called Love in Sol#

Cole Porter's composition builds dramatic tension through a minor bridge that introduces Locrian and Harmonic Minor color, contrasting sharply with the Bebop Major vocabulary of the major sections. The abrupt shift to the parallel minor key on the bridge is one of the most striking harmonic moves in the standard repertoire. This contrast between major-key swing and minor-key gravity is the tune's defining dramatic arc.

What Is This Thing Called Love in Sol#

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 D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to A# (descending minor third), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to A# (ascending whole step), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth). 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 D# by unison.

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.