Bess You Is My Woman

Bess You Is My Woman in A#

Key of A#

A# (Bb) major requires barre chords rooted at fret 1 on the A string or fret 6 on the E string. Despite the barre demands, it is a common key in funk, New Orleans R&B, and brass band music. The open D string can ring as the major third for added color. A# is a intermediate-level key on guitar because the open D string is the major 3rd of Bb, adding a bright color if allowed to ring. Expect to rely on barre chords throughout, which builds hand strength and unlocks the entire fretboard.

Voice Leading

The bass line moves through A# to G (descending minor third), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to A# (ascending unison), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to G (descending half step), G to E (descending minor third), E to D# (descending half step), D# to D (descending half step), D to C# (descending half step), C# to F (ascending major third), F to A (ascending major third), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to D (descending perfect fourth), D to G# (ascending tritone), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to C# (ascending whole step), C# to D# (ascending whole step), D# to C (descending minor third), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to B (ascending tritone), B to C# (ascending whole step), C# to B (descending whole step), B to D (ascending minor third), D to A (descending perfect fourth), A to A (ascending unison), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to G (descending perfect fourth), G to D (descending perfect fourth), D to G# (ascending tritone), G# to E (descending major third), E to D (descending whole step), D to A# (descending major third), A# to A# (ascending unison), A# to B (ascending half step), B to A (descending whole step), A to F# (descending minor third), F# to D (descending major third), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to A# (ascending minor third), A# to E (ascending tritone), 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 A# by half 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.