AS TIME GOES BY in A

Herman Hupfeld(1931)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B

Chord Diagrams — AS TIME GOES BY in A (Guitar)

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AS TIME GOES BY 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 E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to E (ascending unison), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to F# (descending minor third), F# to C# (descending perfect fourth), C# to B (descending whole step), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to D (descending whole step), D to F# (ascending major third), F# to D (descending major third), D to A (descending perfect fourth), A to A (ascending unison), A to F# (descending minor third), F# to C (ascending tritone), C to D (ascending whole step), D to B (descending minor third), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to E (ascending unison), E to E (ascending unison), 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 E by unison.

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 · 27 bars · Form: AB

Chords: E7, Bm7, E7♭9, Em6, AMaj7, F♯m7, C♯m7, B7, E7sus4, DMaj7, F♯7♭9, Dm6, A7, A6, F♯7, Cdim, D7, B9, Edim, E9, Eaug7, E13.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop, A bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A