For Heaven's Sake in A

Elise Bretton / Sherman Edwards / Donald Meyer(1948)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B

Chord Diagrams — For Heaven's Sake in A (Guitar)

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For Heaven's Sake 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 B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to A# (ascending half step), A# to A (descending half step), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to C# (descending half step), C# to C (descending half step), C to B (descending half step), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to G (descending whole step), G to A# (ascending minor third), A# to F (descending perfect fourth), F to F# (ascending half step), F# to F (descending half step), F to A (ascending major third), A to A (ascending unison), A to A (ascending unison), A to A (ascending unison), A to A# (ascending half 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 A# to B by half 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 · 26 bars · Form: AB

Chords: Bm7♭5, E7♭9, AMaj7, A♯dim7, A7, Dm7, C♯m7, Cdim, Bm7, E7, A6, Gm7, A♯m6, Fm7, F♯dim, FMaj7, Am, Am♯5, Am6, Am7, A♯dim.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop, A bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A