Bohemian Rhapsody in A
Bohemian Rhapsody 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 B (ascending whole step), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to A (descending whole step), A to F# (descending minor third), F# to A (ascending minor third), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to B (descending minor third), B to A# (descending half step), A# to G# (descending whole step), G# to A (ascending half step), A to C (ascending minor third), C to E (ascending major third), E to E (ascending unison), E to A# (ascending tritone), A# to D (ascending major third), D to E (ascending whole step), E to E (ascending unison), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to G (ascending minor third), G to G (ascending unison), G to D (descending perfect fourth), D to E (ascending whole step), E to F# (ascending whole step), F# to C (ascending tritone), C to C (ascending unison), C to A (descending minor third), A to C# (ascending major third), C# to G# (descending perfect fourth), G# to C (ascending major third), C to G (descending perfect fourth), G to B (ascending major third), B to D# (ascending major third), D# to A# (descending perfect fourth), A# to G# (descending whole step), G# to D (ascending tritone), D to F (ascending minor third), F to E (descending half step), E to F (ascending half step), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to F (descending perfect fourth), F to A (ascending major third), A to F# (descending minor third), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to G (ascending half step), G to G (ascending unison). 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 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.