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Dolphin Dance in A
Dolphin Dance in A: Herbie Hancock's semi-modal gem balances tonal and modal thinking across its unpredictable harmonic landscape. Lydian brightens the major chords, Dorian colors the minor sections, and Bebop Major lines stitch it together. Chords: Amaj7 – Gmaj7/Eb – G#m7b5 – C#7b9 – F#m7 – Dmaj7#11 – D#m7 – G#7 – C#maj7 – Dm7 – Bm7 – C#7#5 – C#7sus4 – D#/G – Amaj7#11/G – B7sus4 – B13b9 – A#m7 – D#7 – A7 – Fm7 – A#7 – G#m7 – Gm7 – C7 – G#maj7/E – F#maj7/E – E13b9/Eb – Dmaj7#5/Eb.
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 whole step), G to G# (ascending half step), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to D (descending major third), D to D# (ascending half step), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to D (ascending half step), D to B (descending minor third), B to C# (ascending whole step), C# to C# (ascending unison), C# to D# (ascending whole step), D# to A (ascending tritone), A to B (ascending whole step), B to B (ascending unison), B to A# (descending half step), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to A (ascending tritone), A to F (descending major third), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to G# (descending whole step), G# to G (descending half step), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to G# (descending major third), G# to F# (descending whole step), F# to E (descending whole step), E to D (descending whole step). 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 D 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.