Come Sunday in A

Duke Ellington(1943)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
C♯aug7
D6/A
F♯aug7
Eaug7
C♯aug7
D6/A

Chord Diagrams — Come Sunday in A (Guitar)

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Come Sunday 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 E to D (descending whole step), D to C# (descending half step), 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 D (ascending perfect fourth), D to A (descending perfect fourth), A to C# (ascending major third), C# to D (ascending half step), D to F# (ascending major third), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to B (ascending unison), B to C# (ascending whole step), 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 E by unison.

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 · 24 bars · Form: AB

Chords: E7, D7♯11, C♯aug7, F♯9, Bm9, E9, A6, D6/A, Adim7, C♯7, D7, F♯m7, B9, Bm7, C♯7♯9, F♯aug7, Eaug7.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop, A bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A