I Remember Clifford in A

Benny Golson(1957)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A

Chord Diagrams — I Remember Clifford in A (Guitar)

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I Remember Clifford 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 D to E (ascending whole step), E to C# (descending minor third), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to E (descending whole step), E to D (descending whole step), D to C (descending whole step), C to B (descending half step), B to B (ascending unison), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D# (ascending tritone), D# to E (ascending half step), E to F (ascending half step), F to F# (ascending half step), F# to D# (descending minor third), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to C# (ascending unison), C# to A# (descending minor third), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to C# (descending whole step), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to G# (ascending whole 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 G# to D by tritone.

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 · 38 bars · Form: A

Chords: D, E9, C♯7, F♯m7, Em7, Dm7, Cm7, Bm7, Bm7/E, E7♭9, A, D♯dim, E7, Fdim, F♯m7/E, D♯m7♭5, G♯7, C♯m7, C♯m7/B, A♯m7♭5, D♯7, C♯m7♭5, F♯7, G♯m7♭5.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop, A bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A