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Cherokee in A
Cherokee in A — a bebop rite of passage at up tempo, with a bridge that descends through ii-V pairs a half step at a time. Lydian Dominant navigates the remote key centers; Bebop Major handles the A sections. Changes: A6 – Em7 – A7 – Dmaj7 – G7 – B7 – Bm7 – F#7b9 – E7#5 – E7 – Cm7 – F7 – A#maj7 – A#m7 – D#7 – G#maj7 – G#m7 – C#7 – F#maj7 – F#m7.
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 E (descending perfect fourth), 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 B (ascending unison), B to F# (descending perfect fourth), F# to E (descending whole step), E to E (ascending unison), E to C (descending major third), 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# (ascending unison), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to F# (ascending unison). 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 F# to A by minor 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.