Because of You in A

Arthur Hammerstein / Dudley Wilkinson(1940)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
D9♯11

Chord Diagrams — Because of You in A (Guitar)

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Because of You 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 F# (descending minor third), F# to C# (descending perfect fourth), C# to C# (ascending unison), C# to B (descending whole step), B to B (ascending unison), B to F (ascending tritone), F to D (descending minor third), D to G# (ascending tritone), G# to D# (descending perfect fourth), D# to A (ascending tritone), A to F# (descending minor third), F# to D (descending major third). 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 D to B by minor third.

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 · 33 bars · Form: A

Chords: Bm7, E7, A, F♯7, C♯m7, C♯m7♭5, Bm, B7, F7, D9♯11, G♯7, D♯m7♭5, AMaj7, F♯m7, D7.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop, A bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A