Get Out of Town in A

Cole Porter(1938)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
Amadd2/G
Em7♭5/A
Edim/D
FmMaj7/G♯
CMaj9/G

Chord Diagrams — Get Out of Town in A (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree

Get Out of Town 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 A (ascending unison), A to A (ascending unison), A to F# (descending minor third), F# to F (descending half step), F to E (descending half step), E to D# (descending half step), D# to D (descending half step), D to B (descending minor third), B to B (ascending unison), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to E (ascending unison), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to D (descending whole step), D to F (ascending minor third), F to F (ascending unison), F to C (descending perfect fourth), C to E (ascending major third), E to D (descending whole step), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to G# (descending major third), G# to E (descending major 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 E 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.

swing4/4 · 32 bars · Form: A

Chords: Am, Am6, Amadd2/G, F♯m7♭5, Fdim, Em7, D♯dim, Dm7, B7, B7♭9, E, E7, A, Em7♭5/A, A7, Edim/D, Dm, Fm, FmMaj7/G♯, CMaj9/G, Em7♭5, Dm7♭5, G7, C, G♯dim, E7♭9.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop minor, A bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A