At Last in A

Mack Gordon / Harry Warren(1942)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B

Chord Diagrams — At Last in A (Guitar)

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At Last 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 F# (descending minor third), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to C# (descending minor third), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to D (descending major third), D to E (ascending whole step), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D# (ascending tritone), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to B (ascending minor third), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to C# (descending minor third), C# to B (descending whole step). 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 B to A 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 · 27 bars · Form: AB

Chords: A, F♯m, Bm7, E9, Bm, E7, C♯m7, F♯m7, Dm6, E7♭9, AMaj7, D♯m7♭5, G♯7♭9♯5, B7, EMaj7, C♯7, B7♭9.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop, A bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A