In a Sentimental Mood in A#

Duke Ellington, Irvin Mills, Manny Kurtz()swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
F♯aug/D♯
C♯69
F7♯5
C♯69
E13
A/C♯
C13
G♯7sus4
F7♯5
C♯aug/F
F♯aug/D♯
F7♯5
C♯69

Chord Diagrams — In a Sentimental Mood in A# (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
A♯m
EADGBE11x342
6frEADGBE1111346frEADGBE111xx38frEADGBExx1342
A♯mMaj7
EADGBE11x423
6frEADGBE1111328frEADGBE11x34210frEADGBE11x42x
A♯m7
EADGBE111x32
EADGBExx23146frEADGBE1111138frEADGBE11x423
A♯m6
EADGBEx13x24
3frEADGBEx2314x5frEADGBE2222x16frEADGBE111234
D♯m7
EADGBExx1423
6frEADGBE1111327frEADGBExx231411frEADGBE111114
F♯aug/D♯
EADGBExx4231
EADGBE11xx2x7frEADGBE11x32x11frEADGBE11432x
D♯m6
EADGBE111x32
4frEADGBE11x3247frEADGBExx231411frEADGBE111234
F7♯5
EADGBE1234x
3frEADGBExx14238frEADGBE11x43212frEADGBE213x4x
Fm7
EADGBE111113
3frEADGBExx14238frEADGBE1111329frEADGBExx2314
A♯9
EADGBEx1234
5frEADGBE11234x6frEADGBE11132412frEADGBE2222x1
G♯7♭9
EADGBE111x2
4frEADGBE11xx235frEADGBE11xx2310frEADGBE11x234
C♯69
EADGBE11x432
EADGBE11x2348frEADGBE11123410frEADGBExx2134
Cm7
EADGBEx2134x
3frEADGBE1111324frEADGBExx23148frEADGBE111113
Bm9
EADGBEx1234
3frEADGBE222x147frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE112234
E13
EADGBE213
EADGBE1235frEADGBE13427frEADGBE111134
AMaj7
EADGBEx213
EADGBE111x45frEADGBE1114237frEADGBE333x1
F♯m7
EADGBE111113
4frEADGBExx14239frEADGBE11113210frEADGBExx2314
E7
EADGBE21
5frEADGBEx3241x7frEADGBE1111349frEADGBE111xx2
DMaj7
EADGBE111xx
2frEADGBE111x435frEADGBE1113247frEADGBE111xx4
A/C♯
EADGBEx234
2frEADGBE111x45frEADGBE1113427frEADGBEx1243
C13
2frEADGBE44x213
3frEADGBE1111346frEADGBE2223418frEADGBE111324
Bm7
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBExx23147frEADGBE1111139frEADGBE11x423
C♯m7
4frEADGBE111x32
5frEADGBExx23149frEADGBE11111411frEADGBExx1423
G♯7sus4
EADGBE1122xx
4frEADGBE1111349frEADGBE11x23411frEADGBE111134
G♯7
EADGBE111xx2
4frEADGBE1111326frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBE111134
A♯m9
2frEADGBExx2413
4frEADGBE113x246frEADGBE11113411frEADGBEx2134x
C♯aug/F
EADGBE11x234
4frEADGBE1111346frEADGBE11432x9frEADGBE11x423
C7
EADGBEx3241
3frEADGBE1111345frEADGBE111xx28frEADGBE111132
Gm7♭5
EADGBE3xx421
EADGBE2x341x5frEADGBE222xx110frEADGBEx1324x
F♯Maj7
EADGBE111423
4frEADGBE11x3336frEADGBE111x439frEADGBE111324

In a Sentimental Mood in A#

Key of A#

A# (Bb) major requires barre chords rooted at fret 1 on the A string or fret 6 on the E string. Despite the barre demands, it is a common key in funk, New Orleans R&B, and brass band music. The open D string can ring as the major third for added color. A# is a intermediate-level key on guitar because the open D string is the major 3rd of Bb, adding a bright color if allowed to ring. Expect to rely on barre chords throughout, which builds hand strength and unlocks the entire fretboard.

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

swing4/4 · 26 bars · Form: AB

Chords: A♯m, A♯mMaj7, A♯m7, A♯m6, D♯m7, F♯aug/D♯, D♯m6, F7♯5, Fm7, A♯9, G♯7♭9, C♯69, Cm7, Bm9, E13, AMaj7, F♯m7, E7, DMaj7, A/C♯, C13, Bm7, C♯m7, G♯7sus4, G♯7, A♯m9, C♯aug/F, C7, Gm7♭5, F♯Maj7.

Scales for Improvisation A# bebop minor, A# bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A#