Desafinado in A

A. C. Jobim()swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B

Chord Diagrams — Desafinado in A (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
AMaj7
EADGBEx213
EADGBE111x45frEADGBE1114237frEADGBE333x1
B7♭5
EADGBEx3142
EADGBEx1213x6frEADGBE2x341x9frEADGBExx1234
Bm7
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBExx23147frEADGBE1111139frEADGBE11x423
E7
EADGBE21
5frEADGBEx3241x7frEADGBE1111349frEADGBE111xx2
C♯m7♭5
4frEADGBEx1324x
5frEADGBE11xx248frEADGBE2x341x11frEADGBE222xx1
F♯7♭9
EADGBE2134
3frEADGBE11xx238frEADGBE11x23412frEADGBE3241xx
C♯7♭9
EADGBE11x234
4frEADGBEx12347frEADGBE3241x9frEADGBExx1324
F♯7
EADGBE111132
4frEADGBE11x3247frEADGBEx3241x9frEADGBE111134
B7♭9
EADGBE11x234
5frEADGBE3241xx7frEADGBE111x238frEADGBE11xx23
A♯Maj7
EADGBE11x324
3frEADGBE111xx46frEADGBE1114238frEADGBE11333x
Dm6
EADGBExx21
3frEADGBE11x3245frEADGBEx13x249frEADGBE2222x1
G♯7♯9
EADGBE222221
4frEADGBE1144325frEADGBE44xx3110frEADGBEx2134x
C♯Maj7
EADGBE111x43
4frEADGBE1113246frEADGBE11xxx39frEADGBE1x342x
Ddim7
EADGBExx23
4frEADGBE11x2347frEADGBEx243110frEADGBE111234
D♯m7
EADGBExx1423
6frEADGBE1111327frEADGBExx231411frEADGBE111114
G♯7
EADGBE111xx2
4frEADGBE1111326frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBE111134
C♯m7
4frEADGBE111x32
5frEADGBExx23149frEADGBE11111411frEADGBExx1423
D♯m7♭5
EADGBE222xx1
6frEADGBEx1324x7frEADGBE11xx2410frEADGBE2x341x
EMaj7
EADGBE312
EADGBE333xx14frEADGBE111x437frEADGBE111324
Fdim7
EADGBE1x23
EADGBE11xx347frEADGBE11123412frEADGBE3x142x
F♯m7
EADGBE111113
4frEADGBExx14239frEADGBE11113210frEADGBExx2314
B7
EADGBEx2134
EADGBE1111344frEADGBE111xx27frEADGBE111132
A♯dim7
EADGBEx123
EADGBExx13246frEADGBE1112348frEADGBExx1324
Dm7
EADGBExx312
5frEADGBE1111326frEADGBExx231410frEADGBE111113
G7
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE1111325frEADGBE11x32410frEADGBE111134
A6
EADGBE1111x
4frEADGBE2x143x5frEADGBE113x2410frEADGBEx4231x

Desafinado 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 B (ascending whole step), B to B (ascending unison), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to C# (descending minor third), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to C# (descending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to A# (descending half step), A# to D (ascending major third), D to G# (ascending tritone), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to D (ascending half step), D to D# (ascending half step), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to D# (ascending whole step), D# to E (ascending half step), E to F (ascending half step), F to F# (ascending half step), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to A# (descending half step), A# to D (ascending major third), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to A (ascending 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 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 · 60 bars · Form: AB

Chords: AMaj7, B7♭5, Bm7, E7, C♯m7♭5, F♯7♭9, C♯7♭9, F♯7, B7♭9, A♯Maj7, Dm6, G♯7♯9, C♯Maj7, Ddim7, D♯m7, G♯7, C♯m7, D♯m7♭5, EMaj7, Fdim7, F♯m7, B7, A♯dim7, Dm7, G7, A6.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop, A bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A