Always And Forever in A

Pat Metheny(1992)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
D/E
C♯/F
Dm/F
D/E
DmMaj7/E
C♯/F
G/B
FMaj7/A
D/E
C♯/F
Dm/F
D/E
Dm6/A
Dm6/E
C♯/F

Chord Diagrams — Always And Forever in A (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
F♯m7
EADGBE111113
4frEADGBExx14239frEADGBE11113210frEADGBExx2314
Bm7
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBExx23147frEADGBE1111139frEADGBE11x423
C♯m7
4frEADGBE111x32
5frEADGBExx23149frEADGBE11111411frEADGBExx1423
DMaj7
EADGBE111xx
2frEADGBE111x435frEADGBE1113247frEADGBE111xx4
D/E
EADGBExx132
2frEADGBE1114325frEADGBE11123410frEADGBE111342
C♯/F
EADGBE11x432
4frEADGBE1112346frEADGBE1113249frEADGBE111342
Dm/F
6frEADGBEx4231x
EADGBExx2315frEADGBE11134210frEADGBE111134
A/E
EADGBEx234
2frEADGBE111x45frEADGBE1113427frEADGBEx1243
D♯m7♭5
EADGBE222xx1
6frEADGBEx1324x7frEADGBE11xx2410frEADGBE2x341x
D
EADGBExx132
2frEADGBE1114325frEADGBE11123410frEADGBE111342
C
EADGBEx321
3frEADGBE1112345frEADGBE111xx48frEADGBE111342
B7
EADGBEx2134
EADGBE1111344frEADGBE111xx27frEADGBE111132
A
EADGBEx234
2frEADGBE111x45frEADGBE1113427frEADGBEx1243
DmMaj7/E
EADGBExx231
2frEADGBE11x425frEADGBE11142310frEADGBE111132
Dm7
EADGBExx312
5frEADGBE1111326frEADGBExx231410frEADGBE111113
G7
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE1111325frEADGBE11x32410frEADGBE111134
C6
EADGBEx4231
3frEADGBE3333x17frEADGBE2x143x8frEADGBE11x324
G/B
7frEADGBE111432
EADGBE2133frEADGBE1113425frEADGBE11x243
A♯
EADGBE11x234
3frEADGBE11143x6frEADGBE1113428frEADGBE11x243
Am7
EADGBEx21
EADGBEx23145frEADGBE1111137frEADGBE11x423
FMaj7/A
EADGBExx321
EADGBE1114233frEADGBE11x3338frEADGBE111324
Em7
EADGBE2
EADGBE114237frEADGBE1111328frEADGBExx2314
F♯m7♭5
EADGBE2341
4frEADGBE222xx19frEADGBEx1324x10frEADGBE11xx24
B7♭9
EADGBE11x234
5frEADGBE3241xx7frEADGBE111x238frEADGBE11xx23
E
EADGBE231
2frEADGBExx12434frEADGBE1114327frEADGBE111234
G♯m7♭5
EADGBExx13
EADGBE2x341x6frEADGBE222xx111frEADGBEx1324x
C♯7♭9
EADGBE11x234
4frEADGBEx12347frEADGBE3241x9frEADGBExx1324
Dm6/A
EADGBExx21
3frEADGBE11x3245frEADGBEx13x249frEADGBE2222x1
AMaj7
EADGBEx213
EADGBE111x45frEADGBE1114237frEADGBE333x1
Dm6/E
EADGBExx21
3frEADGBE11x3245frEADGBEx13x249frEADGBE2222x1

Always And Forever 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 F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to C# (ascending whole step), C# to D (ascending half step), D to D (ascending unison), D to C# (descending half step), C# to D (ascending half step), D to A (descending perfect fourth), A to D# (ascending tritone), D# to D (descending half step), D to C (descending whole step), C to B (descending half step), B to A (descending whole step), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to D (ascending unison), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to G (descending perfect fourth), G to A# (ascending minor third), A# to A (descending half step), A to F (descending major third), F to E (descending half step), 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 D (ascending half step), D to A (descending perfect fourth), A to D (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 D to F# by major third.

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 · 30 bars · Form: A

Chords: F♯m7, Bm7, C♯m7, DMaj7, D/E, C♯/F, Dm/F, A/E, D♯m7♭5, D, C, B7, A, DmMaj7/E, Dm7, G7, C6, G/B, A♯, Am7, FMaj7/A, Em7, F♯m7♭5, B7♭9, E, G♯m7♭5, C♯7♭9, Dm6/A, AMaj7, Dm6/E.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop, A bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A