I'll Remember April in A

Gene de Paul / Patricia Johnston / Don Raye(1941)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
G13
Bm11
G♯m11
C♯13

Chord Diagrams — I'll Remember April in A (Guitar)

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

swing2/2 · 48 bars · Form: A

Chords: AMaj7, A6, Am7, Am6, Bm7♭5, E7, G13, F♯7, Bm7, A, A7♭9, Dm7, G7, CMaj7, C6, Bm11, G♯m11, C♯13, F♯Maj7, C♯m7♭5.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop, A bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A