When Sunny Gets Blue in G

Marvin Fisher / Jack Segal(1956)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B

Chord Diagrams — When Sunny Gets Blue in G (Guitar)

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When Sunny Gets Blue 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 A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to C (descending whole step), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to G (ascending whole step), G to B (ascending major third), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to C# (descending minor third), C# to G (ascending tritone), G to A# (ascending minor third), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to C (descending minor third), C to E (ascending major third), E to F# (ascending whole step), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to G# (ascending major third), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to E (ascending minor third), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), 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 A 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: Am7, D7, Cm7, F7, GMaj7, Bm7, E7, C♯m7♭5, GMaj7/B, A♯m7, D♯7, C7, E7♭9, F♯m7, B7♭9, EMaj7, G♯m7, C♯7♯9, Em7, A7, DMaj7.

Scales for Improvisation G bebop, G bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of G