Darn That Dream in A

Jimmy Van Heusen / Eddie DeLange(1939)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B

Chord Diagrams — Darn That Dream in A (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
AMaj7
EADGBEx213
EADGBE111x45frEADGBE1114237frEADGBE333x1
F7/C
3frEADGBE11x324
EADGBE1111328frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111xx2
Bm7
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBExx23147frEADGBE1111139frEADGBE11x423
C♯7♭5
EADGBEx431
4frEADGBE11x23x8frEADGBE2x341x12frEADGBExx1234
C♯7
EADGBEx3241x
4frEADGBE111x346frEADGBE1114329frEADGBE111132
F♯m
EADGBE111134
4frEADGBE11x3425frEADGBExx32419frEADGBE111342
Bm/D
10frEADGBExx3241
EADGBE1113427frEADGBE1111349frEADGBExx1342
C♯m7♭5
4frEADGBEx1324x
5frEADGBE11xx248frEADGBE2x341x11frEADGBE222xx1
F♯7
EADGBE111132
4frEADGBE11x3247frEADGBEx3241x9frEADGBE111134
G7
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE1111325frEADGBE11x32410frEADGBE111134
C♯m7
4frEADGBE111x32
5frEADGBExx23149frEADGBE11111411frEADGBExx1423
Cdim
EADGBEx41x23
3frEADGBEx1243x6frEADGBE31x42x10frEADGBExx12x3
A♯7
EADGBE111x34
6frEADGBE1111328frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBEx3241x
E7
EADGBE21
5frEADGBEx3241x7frEADGBE1111349frEADGBE111xx2
A♯7♯9
EADGBEx123x
6frEADGBE1144327frEADGBExx213412frEADGBEx2134x
C13
2frEADGBE44x213
3frEADGBE1111346frEADGBE2223418frEADGBE111324
F
EADGBE111342
3frEADGBE11x2435frEADGBE1114328frEADGBE111234
Dm
EADGBExx231
5frEADGBE1113426frEADGBEx4231x10frEADGBE111134
Gm7
3frEADGBE111113
5frEADGBE11x4238frEADGBE11x23410frEADGBE111132
C7
EADGBEx3241
3frEADGBE1111345frEADGBE111xx28frEADGBE111132
FMaj7/A
EADGBExx321
EADGBE1114233frEADGBE11x3338frEADGBE111324
G♯m6
EADGBE2x134x
4frEADGBE1112346frEADGBE111x329frEADGBE11x324
Am
EADGBEx231
2frEADGBE444x15frEADGBE1111347frEADGBEx1342
AmMaj7
EADGBEx312
5frEADGBE1111327frEADGBE11x3429frEADGBE11x42x
Am7
EADGBEx21
EADGBEx23145frEADGBE1111137frEADGBE11x423
F9
EADGBE111324
EADGBExx21437frEADGBE22222110frEADGBE1111x2
E9
EADGBE213
EADGBE113x426frEADGBE2222219frEADGBE11112
F♯m7
EADGBE111113
4frEADGBExx14239frEADGBE11113210frEADGBExx2314
A6
EADGBE1111x
4frEADGBE2x143x5frEADGBE113x2410frEADGBEx4231x

Darn That Dream 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 F (descending major third), F to B (ascending tritone), B to C# (ascending whole step), C# to C# (ascending unison), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to C# (ascending whole step), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to G (ascending half step), G to C# (ascending tritone), C# to C (descending half step), C to A# (descending whole step), A# to E (ascending tritone), E to A# (ascending tritone), A# to C (ascending whole step), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to D (descending minor third), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to G# (ascending minor third), G# to A (ascending half step), A to A (ascending unison), A to A (ascending unison), A to F (descending major third), F to E (descending half step), E to F# (ascending whole step), F# to A (ascending minor third). 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 A to A 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 · 26 bars · Form: AB

Chords: AMaj7, F7/C, Bm7, C♯7♭5, C♯7, F♯m, Bm/D, C♯m7♭5, F♯7, G7, C♯m7, Cdim, A♯7, E7, A♯7♯9, C13, F, Dm, Gm7, C7, FMaj7/A, G♯m6, Am, AmMaj7, Am7, F9, E9, F♯m7, A6.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop, A bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A