About A Quarter To Nine in A#

Harry Warren / Al Dubin(1935)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
C♯/G♯
D♯m7/G♯
D♯m6/F♯
C♯7/G♯
A♯dim/G
C♯7/G♯
A♯dim/C♯
F♯/A♯
A♯m/G
F♯/A♯
C♯7/G♯
A♯dim/G
C♯7/G♯

Chord Diagrams — About A Quarter To Nine in A# (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
A♯m
EADGBE11x342
6frEADGBE1111346frEADGBE111xx38frEADGBExx1342
F7
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBE11x3248frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111xx2
D♯m
EADGBExx1342
EADGBExx32416frEADGBE11134211frEADGBE111134
D♯m7♭5
EADGBE222xx1
6frEADGBEx1324x7frEADGBE11xx2410frEADGBE2x341x
C♯/G♯
4frEADGBE111234
EADGBE11x4326frEADGBE1113249frEADGBE111342
D♯m7/G♯
EADGBExx1423
6frEADGBE1111327frEADGBExx231411frEADGBE111114
G♯7
EADGBE111xx2
4frEADGBE1111326frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBE111134
C♯
EADGBE11x432
4frEADGBE1112346frEADGBE1113249frEADGBE111342
D♯m6/F♯
EADGBE111x32
4frEADGBE11x3247frEADGBExx231411frEADGBE111234
Faug
EADGBExx4231
6frEADGBE11x32x8frEADGBEx1x34210frEADGBE11432x
C7
EADGBEx3241
3frEADGBE1111345frEADGBE111xx28frEADGBE111132
Cm7♭5
EADGBEx1324x
4frEADGBE11xx248frEADGBE11123410frEADGBE333xx1
C♯7
EADGBEx3241x
4frEADGBE111x346frEADGBE1114329frEADGBE111132
F♯
EADGBE111342
4frEADGBE11x2436frEADGBE1114329frEADGBE111234
G♯m7
4frEADGBE111113
6frEADGBE11x4239frEADGBE11x23x11frEADGBE111132
Adim
EADGBEx132x
3frEADGBE31x42x7frEADGBExx12x310frEADGBEx41x23
C♯7/G♯
EADGBEx3241x
4frEADGBE111x346frEADGBE1114329frEADGBE111132
A♯dim/G
EADGBEx1243x
4frEADGBE31x42x8frEADGBExx12x311frEADGBEx41x23
A♯dim/C♯
EADGBEx1243x
4frEADGBE31x42x8frEADGBExx12x311frEADGBEx41x23
F♯/A♯
6frEADGBE111432
EADGBE1113424frEADGBE11x2439frEADGBE111234
A7
EADGBEx23
EADGBE111x25frEADGBE1111327frEADGBEx1324
D
EADGBExx132
2frEADGBE1114325frEADGBE11123410frEADGBE111342
Bm
EADGBE111342
7frEADGBE1111349frEADGBExx134210frEADGBExx3241
A♯m/G
EADGBE11x342
6frEADGBE1111346frEADGBE111xx38frEADGBExx1342
Fm
EADGBE111134
3frEADGBExx13428frEADGBE11134210frEADGBE1142xx
Fm7
EADGBE111113
3frEADGBExx14238frEADGBE1111329frEADGBExx2314
A♯7
EADGBE111x34
6frEADGBE1111328frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBEx3241x
D♯7
EADGBExx1324
6frEADGBE111x348frEADGBE111xx211frEADGBE111132
A♯dim
EADGBEx1243x
4frEADGBE31x42x8frEADGBExx12x311frEADGBEx41x23

About A Quarter To Nine in A#

Key of A#

A# (Bb) major requires barre chords rooted at fret 1 on the A string or fret 6 on the E string. Despite the barre demands, it is a common key in funk, New Orleans R&B, and brass band music. The open D string can ring as the major third for added color. A# is a intermediate-level key on guitar because the open D string is the major 3rd of Bb, adding a bright color if allowed to ring. Expect to rely on barre chords throughout, which builds hand strength and unlocks the entire fretboard.

Voice Leading

The bass line moves through A# to F (descending perfect fourth), F to D# (descending whole step), D# to D# (ascending unison), D# to C# (descending whole step), C# to D# (ascending whole step), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to D# (ascending whole step), D# to F (ascending whole step), F to C (descending perfect fourth), C to C (ascending unison), C to C# (ascending half step), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to G# (ascending whole step), G# to A (ascending half step), A to C# (ascending major third), C# to A# (descending minor third), A# to A# (ascending unison), A# to F# (descending major third), F# to A (ascending minor third), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to B (descending minor third), B to A# (descending half step), A# to F (descending perfect fourth), F to F (ascending unison), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to A# (descending perfect fourth). 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 A# to A# by unison.

Scales for Improvisation

A# 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, A# Mixolydian adds the flat seventh for an authentic blues-rock edge.

swing2/2 · 41 bars · Form: AB

Chords: A♯m, F7, D♯m, D♯m7♭5, C♯/G♯, D♯m7/G♯, G♯7, C♯, D♯m6/F♯, Faug, C7, Cm7♭5, C♯7, F♯, G♯m7, Adim, C♯7/G♯, A♯dim/G, A♯dim/C♯, F♯/A♯, A7, D, Bm, A♯m/G, Fm, Fm7, A♯7, D♯7, A♯dim.

Scales for Improvisation A# bebop minor, A# bebop.

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