Blame It on My Youth in A

Oscar Levant / Edward Heyman(1934)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
A69
Ddim♯7/A
A69
Ddim♯7/A
E7sus4
F/D♯
A/C♯
E7/D
B7sus4

Chord Diagrams — Blame It on My Youth in A (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
A69
EADGBE11x34
4frEADGBE1112346frEADGBE2222x111frEADGBE11x234
Ddim♯7/A
C♯m7♭5
4frEADGBEx1324x
5frEADGBE11xx248frEADGBE2x341x11frEADGBE222xx1
F♯7
EADGBE111132
4frEADGBE11x3247frEADGBEx3241x9frEADGBE111134
Bm7
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBExx23147frEADGBE1111139frEADGBE11x423
E7sus4
EADGBE23
5frEADGBE11x2347frEADGBE1111349frEADGBE11xx23
E7
EADGBE21
5frEADGBEx3241x7frEADGBE1111349frEADGBE111xx2
A
EADGBEx234
2frEADGBE111x45frEADGBE1113427frEADGBEx1243
F/D♯
EADGBE111342
3frEADGBE11x2435frEADGBE1114328frEADGBE111234
Ddim
EADGBExx1x2
3frEADGBEx41x235frEADGBEx1243x8frEADGBE31x42x
A/C♯
EADGBEx234
2frEADGBE111x45frEADGBE1113427frEADGBEx1243
A6
EADGBE1111x
4frEADGBE2x143x5frEADGBE113x2410frEADGBEx4231x
C♯m7
4frEADGBE111x32
5frEADGBExx23149frEADGBE11111411frEADGBExx1423
F♯m7
EADGBE111113
4frEADGBExx14239frEADGBE11113210frEADGBExx2314
A♯dim
EADGBEx1243x
4frEADGBE31x42x8frEADGBExx12x311frEADGBEx41x23
E7/D
EADGBE21
5frEADGBEx3241x7frEADGBE1111349frEADGBE111xx2
Em7
EADGBE2
EADGBE114237frEADGBE1111328frEADGBExx2314
A7
EADGBEx23
EADGBE111x25frEADGBE1111327frEADGBEx1324
DMaj7
EADGBE111xx
2frEADGBE111x435frEADGBE1113247frEADGBE111xx4
G7
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE1111325frEADGBE11x32410frEADGBE111134
Bm7/A
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBExx23147frEADGBE1111139frEADGBE11x423
G♯m7♭5
EADGBExx13
EADGBE2x341x6frEADGBE222xx111frEADGBEx1324x
C♯7
EADGBEx3241x
4frEADGBE111x346frEADGBE1114329frEADGBE111132
B7sus4
EADGBEx123
2frEADGBE1111344frEADGBE1122xx7frEADGBE111134
B7
EADGBEx2134
EADGBE1111344frEADGBE111xx27frEADGBE111132
F♯7♭9
EADGBE2134
3frEADGBE11xx238frEADGBE11x23412frEADGBE3241xx
A♯dim7
EADGBEx123
EADGBExx13246frEADGBE1112348frEADGBExx1324
B9
EADGBE2222x1
4frEADGBE1114327frEADGBE1113248frEADGBExx2143

Blame It on My Youth 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 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), E to E (ascending unison), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to F (descending major third), F to D (descending minor third), D to A (descending perfect fourth), A to A (ascending unison), A to C# (ascending major third), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to A# (ascending major third), A# to E (ascending tritone), E to E (ascending unison), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to B (ascending major third), B to G# (descending minor third), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to B (descending whole step), B to B (ascending unison), B to F# (descending perfect fourth), F# to A# (ascending major third), A# to B (ascending half step). 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 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 · 34 bars · Form: AB

Chords: A69, Ddim♯7/A, C♯m7♭5, F♯7, Bm7, E7sus4, E7, A, F/D♯, Ddim, A/C♯, A6, C♯m7, F♯m7, A♯dim, E7/D, Em7, A7, DMaj7, G7, Bm7/A, G♯m7♭5, C♯7, B7sus4, B7, F♯7♭9, A♯dim7, B9.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop, A bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A