Armando's Rhumba in A

Chick Corea(1976)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
B7♭9/D♯
B7/F♯
C/G
Fm/G
Fm/G
Eaug7
Eaug7

Chord Diagrams — Armando's Rhumba in A (Guitar)

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Armando's Rhumba 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 A to B (ascending whole step), 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 B (descending minor third), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to F (ascending half step), F to B (ascending tritone), B to C (ascending half step), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to C# (descending major third), C# to D (ascending half step), D to D# (ascending half step), D# to E (ascending half step), E to E (ascending unison). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. The mix of stepwise and leap motion balances smoothness with harmonic drive. When the progression loops, the bass returns from E to A by perfect fourth.

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 · 36 bars · Form: AB

Chords: Am, B7, E7, Am7, A7♭9, Dm7, B7♭9/D♯, Em7, Fdim, B7/F♯, C/G, Fm/G, C♯7, D7, D♯7, Eaug7, E7♭9.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop minor, A bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A