In a Sentimental Mood

In a Sentimental Mood in A

In a Sentimental Mood in A: Ellington's ballad moves between minor and major with aching beauty, favoring Dorian over minor chords and Melodic Minor over the tonic. Harmonic Minor colors the cadential V7 moments. Chords: Am – AmMaj7 – Am7 – Am6 – Dm – DmMaj7 – Dm7 – Bm7b5 – E7 – A7 – G7b9 – Cmaj7 – C6 – A#m7 – D#7 – G#maj7 – Fm7 – G#6 – F7#5 – A#7 – G7.

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 D (ascending perfect fourth), D to D (ascending unison), D to D (ascending unison), D to B (descending minor third), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to G (descending whole step), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to C (ascending unison), C to A# (descending whole step), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to F (descending minor third), F to G# (ascending minor third), G# to F (descending minor third), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to G (descending minor third). 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 G 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.