I Got it Bad and That Ain't Good in A

Duke Ellington / Paul Francis Webster(1941)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B

Chord Diagrams — I Got it Bad and That Ain't Good in A (Guitar)

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I Got it Bad and That Ain't Good 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 C# (ascending major third), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to F# (descending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to F# (descending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A# (ascending tritone), A# to D (ascending major third), D to A (descending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to A (descending perfect fourth), A to C# (ascending major third), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to A# (ascending major third), A# to F (descending perfect fourth), F to B (ascending tritone). 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 · 26 bars · Form: AB

Chords: Adim, A, C♯7, F♯m, B13, F♯m7, Bm7, F♯9, B7, E7, A♯7, Dm6, A7, D, A6, C♯m7, F♯7, A♯dim, F7, B9.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop, A bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A