Explore More
Cry Me A River in A
This dark minor ballad builds its emotional weight through Harmonic Minor tension and Dorian and Melodic Minor color over a brooding A center. The dramatic arc rewards soloists who understand how to pace intensity and use register as an expressive tool. The F#m – F#m#5 – F#m6 – F#m7 – Bm7 – E7 – E7#5 – AMaj7 – G#m7 – C#7 – C#m7 – F#7#5 – B9 – Bm7/Bb – A6 – G#7b9 – D#m7b5 – C#m – G#7 – A#m7b5 – F#m6/Eb – G#7sus4 – C# – C#7#5b9 changes are a masterclass in minor tonality voice-leading and expressive harmonic resolution.
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 F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to E (ascending unison), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to G# (descending half step), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to C# (ascending unison), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to B (ascending unison), B to A (descending whole step), A to G# (descending half step), G# to D# (descending perfect fourth), D# to C# (descending whole step), C# to G# (descending perfect fourth), G# to A# (ascending whole step), A# to F# (descending major third), F# to G# (ascending whole step), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to C# (ascending unison). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. The predominantly stepwise bass motion creates smooth, connected voice leading. When the progression loops, the bass returns from C# to F# 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.