In a Sentimental Mood in A

Duke Ellington, Irvin Mills, Manny Kurtz()swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
Faug/D
E7♯5
C69
E7♯5
C69
D♯13
G♯/C
B13
G7sus4
E7♯5
Caug/E
Faug/D
E7♯5
C69

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

Display
FingerNoteDegree
Am
EADGBEx231
2frEADGBE444x15frEADGBE1111347frEADGBEx1342
AmMaj7
EADGBEx312
5frEADGBE1111327frEADGBE11x3429frEADGBE11x42x
Am7
EADGBEx21
EADGBEx23145frEADGBE1111137frEADGBE11x423
Am6
EADGBEx2314
4frEADGBE2222x15frEADGBE1112347frEADGBE111x32
Dm7
EADGBExx312
5frEADGBE1111326frEADGBExx231410frEADGBE111113
Faug/D
EADGBExx4231
6frEADGBE11x32x8frEADGBEx1x34210frEADGBE11432x
Dm6
EADGBExx21
3frEADGBE11x3245frEADGBEx13x249frEADGBE2222x1
E7♯5
EADGBE412
2frEADGBExx14237frEADGBE11x43212frEADGBE1x234x
Em7
EADGBE2
EADGBE114237frEADGBE1111328frEADGBExx2314
A9
2frEADGBE431
EADGBE11x325frEADGBE11132411frEADGBE2222x1
G7♭9
EADGBE11324
EADGBE111x234frEADGBE11xx239frEADGBE11x234
C69
EADGBE11x334
3frEADGBEx1347frEADGBE1112349frEADGBE2222x1
Bm7
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBExx23147frEADGBE1111139frEADGBE11x423
A♯m9
2frEADGBExx2413
4frEADGBE113x246frEADGBE11113411frEADGBEx2134x
D♯13
5frEADGBE44x213
6frEADGBE1111349frEADGBE1142311frEADGBE111234
G♯Maj7
4frEADGBE111423
6frEADGBE11x3339frEADGBEx3241x11frEADGBE111324
Fm7
EADGBE111113
3frEADGBExx14238frEADGBE1111329frEADGBExx2314
D♯7
EADGBExx1324
6frEADGBE111x348frEADGBE111xx211frEADGBE111132
C♯Maj7
EADGBE111x43
4frEADGBE1113246frEADGBE11xxx39frEADGBE1x342x
G♯/C
8frEADGBE111432
EADGBE11132x4frEADGBE1113426frEADGBE11x243
B13
EADGBE44x213
EADGBE1111344frEADGBE1114327frEADGBE111234
A♯m7
EADGBE111x32
EADGBExx23146frEADGBE1111138frEADGBE11x423
Cm7
EADGBEx2134x
3frEADGBE1111324frEADGBExx23148frEADGBE111113
G7sus4
EADGBE1123
3frEADGBE1111348frEADGBE11x23410frEADGBE111134
G7
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE1111325frEADGBE11x32410frEADGBE111134
Am9
EADGBEx2413
5frEADGBE1111348frEADGBE13210frEADGBE2222x1
Caug/E
EADGBE11x32x
3frEADGBEx1423x5frEADGBE11432x8frEADGBExx4231
B7
EADGBEx2134
EADGBE1111344frEADGBE111xx27frEADGBE111132
F♯m7♭5
EADGBE2341
4frEADGBE222xx19frEADGBEx1324x10frEADGBE11xx24
FMaj7
EADGBExx321
EADGBE1114233frEADGBE11x3338frEADGBE111324

In a Sentimental Mood 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 D (ascending perfect fourth), D to F (ascending minor third), F to D (descending minor third), D to E (ascending whole step), E to E (ascending unison), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to G (descending whole step), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to B (descending half step), B to A# (descending half step), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to F (descending minor third), F to D# (descending whole step), D# to C# (descending whole step), C# to G# (descending perfect fourth), G# to B (ascending minor third), B to A# (descending half step), A# 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 B (descending half step), B to F# (descending perfect fourth), F# 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: Am, AmMaj7, Am7, Am6, Dm7, Faug/D, Dm6, E7♯5, Em7, A9, G7♭9, C69, Bm7, A♯m9, D♯13, G♯Maj7, Fm7, D♯7, C♯Maj7, G♯/C, B13, A♯m7, Cm7, G7sus4, G7, Am9, Caug/E, B7, F♯m7♭5, FMaj7.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop minor, A bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A