I Thought About You in A

Jimmy Van Heusen / Johnny Mercer(1939)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
G9♯11
C13
Bm7/A
G♯m7♭5add9add11
E13
G9♯11
C13
Bm7/A
G♯m7♭5add9add11
D♯m7♭5add9add11

Chord Diagrams — I Thought About You in A (Guitar)

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I Thought About You 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 G# (descending half step), G# to G (descending half step), G to F# (descending half step), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to C (ascending half step), C to B (descending half step), B to B (ascending unison), B to G# (descending minor third), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to E (descending whole step), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to D (ascending unison), D to D (ascending unison), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to E (descending minor third), E to D# (descending half step), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to C (descending half step), C to E (ascending major third), E to F# (ascending whole step), F# to D# (descending minor third), D# to D (descending 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 D 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.

swing2/2 · 32 bars · Form: A

Chords: AMaj7, G♯7, G9♯11, F♯7♭9, B9, C13, Bm7, Bm7/A, G♯m7♭5add9add11, C♯7♭9, F♯m7, Em7, A7, DMaj7, D6, Dm7, G7, E7, D♯m7♭5, G♯7♭9, C♯m7, C7, E13, F♯m/E, D♯m7♭5add9add11, D7♯11.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop, A bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A