Let's Face The Music And Dance in A

Irving Berlin(1936)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
Bm7/E
Bm7/E

Chord Diagrams — Let's Face The Music And Dance in A (Guitar)

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Let's Face The Music And Dance 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 B (ascending whole step), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to A (ascending whole step), A to A (ascending unison), A to A (ascending unison), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to F (ascending half step), F to B (ascending tritone), B to A (descending whole step), A to G (descending whole step), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to F# (ascending half step), F# to B (ascending 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 B 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.

swing4/4 · 56 bars · Form: A

Chords: Am, Bm7♭5, E7♭9, AMaj7, Em7, A7, DMaj7, G7, Am6, AmMaj7, Am7, E7, F7, Bm7/E, A6, Gm7, C7, FMaj7, F♯m7, Bm7.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop, A bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A