Come Rain or Come Shine in A

Johnny Mercer / Harold Arlen(1946)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A

Chord Diagrams — Come Rain or Come Shine in A (Guitar)

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Come Rain or Come Shine 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 G# (descending half step), 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 E (descending perfect fourth), E to D (descending whole step), D to A (descending perfect fourth), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to G (descending whole step), G to C# (ascending tritone), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to A# (ascending major third), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to C# (descending whole step), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to G# (ascending whole step), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to E (descending whole 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 E to A by perfect fourth.

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 · 32 bars · Form: A

Chords: AMaj7, G♯m, C♯7, F♯m, B7, E7, A7, Em, Dm, Am, E7♭9, Am6, Gm6, C♯m7♭5, F♯7♯9♯5, A♯m, D♯7, C♯m, F♯7, F♯m7, G♯m7♭5, C♯7♯9, F♯7♯9, E7♯9.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop, A bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A