Lonely Woman in A

Ornette Coleman / Margo Guryan(1959)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
C♭Maj7
C♯7♯5
C♭Maj7
C♯7♯5
C13♯11
C♭Maj7
C♭Maj7
C♯7♯5

Chord Diagrams — Lonely Woman in A (Guitar)

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Lonely Woman 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 C to G (descending perfect fourth), G to A (ascending whole step), A to Cb (ascending minor third), Cb to F# (ascending tritone), F# to E (descending whole step), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to A (descending whole step), A to C# (ascending major third), C# to D# (ascending whole step), D# to C (descending minor third), C to G (descending perfect fourth). 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 C by perfect fourth.

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 · 28 bars · Form: A

Chords: C7, Gm7, Am7, C♭Maj7, F♯m7♭5, E7, Bm7♭5, Am9, C♯7♯5, D♯7♭5, C13♯11, Gm9.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop minor, A bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A