Blue Bossa in La

Kenny Dorham(1963)bossaMedium Bossa
A

Chord Diagrams — Blue Bossa in La (Guitar)

Blue Bossa in La

Blue Bossa in A — bossa nova minor with a pivotal modulation to Db major at the bridge. Use Dorian in the minor sections and Harmonic Minor over the dominant for the Latin feel. Changes: Am7 – Dm7 – Bm7b5 – E7b9 – Cm7 – F7 – A#Maj7.

Blue Bossa 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 B (descending minor third), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to C (descending major third), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth). 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.

bossa4/4 · 16 bars · Form: A

Chords: Lam7, Rem7, Sim7♭5, Mi7♭9, Dom7, Fa7, La♯Maj7.

Scales for Improvisation La dorian, La aeolian, La minor pentatonic, La minor blues, La harmonic minor, La bebop minor, La bebop.