Lover Man in A

Jimmy Davis / Roger ("Ram") Ramirez / James Sherman(1944)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B

Chord Diagrams — Lover Man in A (Guitar)

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Lover Man 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 F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to B (ascending unison), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to D (ascending unison), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to A (ascending whole step), A to G# (descending half step), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to C# (ascending unison), C# to C# (ascending unison), C# to C# (ascending unison), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to D# (ascending major third), D# to B (descending major third), B to B (ascending unison), B to B (ascending unison). 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 F# 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 · 25 bars · Form: AB

Chords: F♯m7, B7, Bm7, E7, A7, D7, Dm7, G7, A, G♯m7, C♯7, C♯m, C♯mMaj7, C♯m7, F♯7, BMaj7, D♯m7, Bm, BmMaj7, Bm6/G♯.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop, A bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A