Do Re MiC D E

How Little We Know

Carmichael Hoagy4/4medium-swing

Chord Diagrams — How Little We Know in A (Guitar)

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How Little We Know 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 E (ascending perfect fourth), E to D (descending whole step), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C# (ascending tritone), C# to C (descending half step), C to F# (ascending tritone), F# to C (ascending tritone), C to E (ascending major third), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to A (descending perfect fourth), A to C (ascending minor third), C to E (ascending major third), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to F# (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 F# to A by minor third.

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.

medium-swing4/4 · 32 bars · Form: ABAC

Chords: Amaj7, Bm7, E7, Dm7, G7, C♯m7, Cm7, F♯m7, Cmaj7, Em7, A7, Dmaj7, A6/A, Cdim7, E7sus4, A6, F♯7.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop, A bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A