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Body And Soul in A
Body And Soul in A — immortalized by Coleman Hawkins, famous for its enharmonic modulation to the tritone key in the bridge. Lydian Dominant colors the bridge dominants; Bebop Major rules the outer sections. Changes: Bm7 – F#7b9 – A#7 – AMaj7 – D7 – C#m7 – Cdim7 – G#m7b5 – C#7 – F#m7 – B7 – E7 – A6 – F#7 – A – F7 – A#Maj7 – Cm7 – D#m7 – G#7 – Dm7 – Gm7 – A#m7 – D#7 – G#Maj7 – Bdim7 – G7.
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 F# (descending perfect fourth), F# to A# (ascending major third), A# to A (descending half step), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to C# (descending half step), C# to C (descending half step), C to G# (descending major third), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to F# (descending minor third), F# to A (ascending minor third), A to F (descending major third), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to C (ascending whole step), C to D# (ascending minor third), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to D (ascending tritone), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to A# (ascending minor third), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to B (ascending minor third), B to G (descending major third). 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 G to B by major 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.