Au Privave in La

Charlie Parker(1951)swingUp Tempo
A

Chord Diagrams — Au Privave in La (Guitar)

Au Privave in La

Charlie Parker's bebop blues relies on precise Mixolydian and Bebop vocabulary deployed over a snappy A groove with characteristic Bird wit. The compact 12-bar form distills bebop language to its essentials without sacrificing harmonic depth. Study the A7 – D7 – C#m7 – F#7 – Bm7 – E7 changes to refine bebop blues phrasing, articulation, and rhythmic precision.

Au Privave in La

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 D (ascending perfect fourth), D to C# (descending half step), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (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 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 · 12 bars · Form: A

Chords: La7, Re7, Do♯m7, Fa♯7, Sim7, Mi7.

Scales for Improvisation La major blues, La mixolydian, La bebop, La bebop major, La major pentatonic.