Along Came Betty in A#

Benny Golson(1958)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B7♭9♯5
A13
A7♯5
A♯Maj9

Chord Diagrams — Along Came Betty in A# (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
Cm7
EADGBEx2134x
3frEADGBE1111324frEADGBExx23148frEADGBE111113
C♯m7
4frEADGBE111x32
5frEADGBExx23149frEADGBE11111411frEADGBExx1423
F♯7
EADGBE111132
4frEADGBE11x3247frEADGBEx3241x9frEADGBE111134
B7♭9
EADGBE11x234
5frEADGBE3241xx7frEADGBE111x238frEADGBE11xx23
A♯7
EADGBE111x34
6frEADGBE1111328frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBEx3241x
AMaj7
EADGBEx213
EADGBE111x45frEADGBE1114237frEADGBE333x1
G♯7
EADGBE111xx2
4frEADGBE1111326frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBE111134
G♯m7
4frEADGBE111113
6frEADGBE11x4239frEADGBE11x23x11frEADGBE111132
Am7
EADGBEx21
EADGBEx23145frEADGBE1111137frEADGBE11x423
D7
EADGBExx213
3frEADGBEx3241x5frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111132
D9
4frEADGBE222221
7frEADGBEx12349frEADGBE11234x10frEADGBE111324
GMaj7
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE1114235frEADGBE11333x10frEADGBE11x324
B7♭9♯5
B - D♯ - G - A - C
Em7
EADGBE2
EADGBE114237frEADGBE1111328frEADGBExx2314
A13
EADGBEx123
3frEADGBE42315frEADGBE11132411frEADGBE44x213
A7♯5
EADGBEx321
EADGBE11x235frEADGBE11x237frEADGBExx1423
Dm7
EADGBExx312
5frEADGBE1111326frEADGBExx231410frEADGBE111113
G7♭9
EADGBE11324
EADGBE111x234frEADGBE11xx239frEADGBE11x234
Bm7♭5
EADGBEx1324x
6frEADGBE2x341x7frEADGBE1112349frEADGBE222xx1
E7♭9
EADGBE312
4frEADGBE11346frEADGBE11x23410frEADGBE3241xx
F♯m7♭5
EADGBE2341
4frEADGBE222xx19frEADGBEx1324x10frEADGBE11xx24
Gm7
3frEADGBE111113
5frEADGBE11x4238frEADGBE11x23410frEADGBE111132
C7
EADGBEx3241
3frEADGBE1111345frEADGBE111xx28frEADGBE111132
F♯9
EADGBE111324
3frEADGBExx21438frEADGBE22222111frEADGBE1111x2
Dm7♭5
EADGBE111xx
3frEADGBE11x3425frEADGBEx1324x8frEADGBEx1432
G7
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE1111325frEADGBE11x32410frEADGBE111134
Cm7♭5
EADGBEx1324x
4frEADGBE11xx248frEADGBE11123410frEADGBE333xx1
F7♯9
EADGBE111324
EADGBExx21347frEADGBEx2134x10frEADGBE111x23
A♯Maj9

Along Came Betty 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 C to C# (ascending half step), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to A# (descending half step), A# to A (descending half step), A to G# (descending half step), G# to G# (ascending unison), G# to A (ascending half step), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to D (ascending unison), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to B (ascending major third), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to A (ascending unison), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to B (ascending major third), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to F# (ascending whole step), F# to G (ascending half step), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F# (ascending tritone), F# to D (descending major third), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to A# (ascending 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 C 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 · 34 bars · Form: A

Chords: Cm7, C♯m7, F♯7, B7♭9, A♯7, AMaj7, G♯7, G♯m7, Am7, D7, D9, GMaj7, B7♭9♯5, Em7, A13, A7♯5, Dm7, G7♭9, Bm7♭5, E7♭9, F♯m7♭5, Gm7, C7, F♯9, Dm7♭5, G7, Cm7♭5, F7♯9, A♯Maj9.

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

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