Easy Living in A

Ralph Rainger, Leo Robin()swingMed
Do Re MiC D E
A
A
B
A

Chord Diagrams — Easy Living in A (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
AMaj7
EADGBEx213
EADGBE111x45frEADGBE1114237frEADGBE333x1
A♯dim7
EADGBEx123
EADGBExx13246frEADGBE1112348frEADGBExx1324
Bm7
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBExx23147frEADGBE1111139frEADGBE11x423
Cdim7
EADGBExx1324
EADGBE11x2347frEADGBE112x3x10frEADGBE11xx34
Amaj7/a
EADGBEx213
EADGBE111x45frEADGBE1114237frEADGBE333x1
Em7
EADGBE2
EADGBE114237frEADGBE1111328frEADGBExx2314
A7
EADGBEx23
EADGBE111x25frEADGBE1111327frEADGBEx1324
DMaj7
EADGBE111xx
2frEADGBE111x435frEADGBE1113247frEADGBE111xx4
G7
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE1111325frEADGBE11x32410frEADGBE111134
F♯m7
EADGBE111113
4frEADGBExx14239frEADGBE11113210frEADGBExx2314
E7
EADGBE21
5frEADGBEx3241x7frEADGBE1111349frEADGBE111xx2
C♯7♯5
EADGBEx4321
4frEADGBE11x4327frEADGBE431x29frEADGBE1x234x
F♯9
EADGBE111324
3frEADGBExx21438frEADGBE22222111frEADGBE1111x2
B7♯5
EADGBEx2134
2frEADGBEx2137frEADGBE1x234x9frEADGBExx1423
E9
EADGBE213
EADGBE113x426frEADGBE2222219frEADGBE11112
E7♭9
EADGBE312
4frEADGBE11346frEADGBE11x23410frEADGBE3241xx
A
EADGBEx234
2frEADGBE111x45frEADGBE1113427frEADGBEx1243
D7
EADGBExx213
3frEADGBEx3241x5frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111132
Gm7
3frEADGBE111113
5frEADGBE11x4238frEADGBE11x23410frEADGBE111132
C7
EADGBEx3241
3frEADGBE1111345frEADGBE111xx28frEADGBE111132
FMaj7
EADGBExx321
EADGBE1114233frEADGBE11x3338frEADGBE111324
Dm7
EADGBExx312
5frEADGBE1111326frEADGBExx231410frEADGBE111113
C7/A♯
EADGBEx3241
3frEADGBE1111345frEADGBE111xx28frEADGBE111132
Am7
EADGBEx21
EADGBEx23145frEADGBE1111137frEADGBE11x423
Dm7/C
EADGBExx312
5frEADGBE1111326frEADGBExx231410frEADGBE111113
Bm7♭5
EADGBEx1324x
6frEADGBE2x341x7frEADGBE1112349frEADGBE222xx1

Easy Living in A

Easy Living in 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 A# (ascending half step), A# to B (ascending half step), B to C (ascending half step), C to A (descending minor third), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to F# (descending half step), F# to E (descending whole step), E to C# (descending minor third), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), 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 D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to D (descending minor third), D to C (descending whole step), C to A (descending minor third), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to B (descending 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 B to A by whole step.

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 · 41 bars · Form: AABA

Chords: AMaj7, A♯dim7, Bm7, Cdim7, Amaj7/a, Em7, A7, DMaj7, G7, F♯m7, E7, C♯7♯5, F♯9, B7♯5, E9, E7♭9, A, D7, Gm7, C7, FMaj7, Dm7, C7/A♯, Am7, Dm7/C, Bm7♭5.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop, A bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A