After You've Gone in A

Turner Layton Henry Creamer()swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
F♯7/C♯
AMaj7/E
E13♭9

Chord Diagrams — After You've Gone in A (Guitar)

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After You've Gone in A

Key of A

A major is a rock and blues cornerstone. The open A string delivers a strong root, while both E strings ring as the fifth. Classic A-D-E progressions practically play themselves with open cowboy chords. The open high E is the fifth, reinforcing power. A is a beginner-level key on guitar because the open A string is the root and the open E strings provide the fifth above and below, creating a massive low-end anchor. Beginners will find this key approachable since most chords use open voicings with minimal stretching.

Voice Leading

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

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.

swing4/4 · 20 bars · Form: A

Chords: DMaj7, DmMaj7, AMaj7, F♯9, B9, E9, A6, A7, F♯7, Bm7, F♯7/C♯, D6, G9, C♯7, F♯m7, B13, AMaj7/E, F♯7♭9, E13♭9, Em7.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop, A bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A