Along Came Betty in A

Benny Golson(1958)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
A♯7♭9♯5
G♯13
G♯7♯5
AMaj9

Chord Diagrams — Along Came Betty in A (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
Bm7
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBExx23147frEADGBE1111139frEADGBE11x423
Cm7
EADGBEx2134x
3frEADGBE1111324frEADGBExx23148frEADGBE111113
F7
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBE11x3248frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111xx2
A♯7♭9
EADGBEx123
4frEADGBE3241xx6frEADGBE111x2312frEADGBE11x234
A7
EADGBEx23
EADGBE111x25frEADGBE1111327frEADGBEx1324
G♯Maj7
4frEADGBE111423
6frEADGBE11x3339frEADGBEx3241x11frEADGBE111324
G7
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE1111325frEADGBE11x32410frEADGBE111134
Gm7
3frEADGBE111113
5frEADGBE11x4238frEADGBE11x23410frEADGBE111132
G♯m7
4frEADGBE111113
6frEADGBE11x4239frEADGBE11x23x11frEADGBE111132
C♯7
EADGBEx3241x
4frEADGBE111x346frEADGBE1114329frEADGBE111132
C♯9
EADGBE222221
8frEADGBE3142xx9frEADGBE11132410frEADGBExx2143
F♯Maj7
EADGBE111423
4frEADGBE11x3336frEADGBE111x439frEADGBE111324
A♯7♭9♯5
A♯ - D - E♯# - G♯ - B
D♯m7
EADGBExx1423
6frEADGBE1111327frEADGBExx231411frEADGBE111114
G♯13
EADGBE111432
4frEADGBE1113244frEADGBE11123410frEADGBE44x213
G♯7♯5
4frEADGBE1x234
6frEADGBExx14239frEADGBEx324111frEADGBE11x432
C♯m7
4frEADGBE111x32
5frEADGBExx23149frEADGBE11111411frEADGBExx1423
F♯7♭9
EADGBE2134
3frEADGBE11xx238frEADGBE11x23412frEADGBE3241xx
A♯m7♭5
EADGBEx1324x
EADGBE11xx245frEADGBE2x341x8frEADGBE222xx1
D♯7♭9
EADGBExx24
5frEADGBE11x2346frEADGBE11x349frEADGBE3241xx
Fm7♭5
EADGBE1x23x
EADGBE222xx18frEADGBEx1324x11frEADGBE2134x
F♯m7
EADGBE111113
4frEADGBExx14239frEADGBE11113210frEADGBExx2314
B7
EADGBEx2134
EADGBE1111344frEADGBE111xx27frEADGBE111132
F9
EADGBE111324
EADGBExx21437frEADGBE22222110frEADGBE1111x2
C♯m7♭5
4frEADGBEx1324x
5frEADGBE11xx248frEADGBE2x341x11frEADGBE222xx1
F♯7
EADGBE111132
4frEADGBE11x3247frEADGBEx3241x9frEADGBE111134
Bm7♭5
EADGBEx1324x
6frEADGBE2x341x7frEADGBE1112349frEADGBE222xx1
E7♯9
EADGBE214
3frEADGBE3126frEADGBEx2134x9frEADGBE11123
AMaj9

Along Came Betty 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 B to C (ascending half step), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to A (descending half step), A to G# (descending half step), G# to G (descending half step), G to G (ascending unison), G to G# (ascending half step), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to C# (ascending unison), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to A# (ascending major third), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to G# (ascending unison), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to A# (ascending major third), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to F (ascending whole step), F to F# (ascending half step), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to F (ascending tritone), F to C# (descending major third), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E 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 B 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: Bm7, Cm7, F7, A♯7♭9, A7, G♯Maj7, G7, Gm7, G♯m7, C♯7, C♯9, F♯Maj7, A♯7♭9♯5, D♯m7, G♯13, G♯7♯5, C♯m7, F♯7♭9, A♯m7♭5, D♯7♭9, Fm7♭5, F♯m7, B7, F9, C♯m7♭5, F♯7, Bm7♭5, E7♯9, AMaj9.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop, A bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A