Ballad For Very Tired And Very Sad Lotus Eaters

Ballad For Very Tired And Very Sad Lotus Eaters 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 B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to A (ascending unison), A to B (ascending whole step), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to E (ascending unison), E to D# (descending half step), D# to D (descending half step), D to B (descending minor third), B to F (ascending tritone), F to B (ascending tritone), B to A (descending whole step), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to E (ascending unison), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to F# (descending minor third), F# to G (ascending half step), G to A# (ascending minor third), A# to A (descending half step), A to G# (descending half step), G# to G (descending half step), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to A (ascending major third), A to A# (ascending half step), A# to C# (ascending minor third), C# to F (ascending major third), F to C (descending perfect fourth), C to A (descending minor third), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to A (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 A to B 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.