Maiden Voyage in La#

Maiden Voyage in La#

Maiden Voyage in A#: Herbie Hancock's modal masterpiece suspends four suspended dominant chords in an ocean of space. Mixolydian and Dorian define the tonalities — Major Pentatonic gives the improvisation an open, floating quality. Chords: A#7sus4 – C#7sus4 – B7sus4 – A7sus4.

Maiden Voyage in La#

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 C# (ascending minor third), C# to B (descending whole step), B to A (descending whole step). The predominantly stepwise bass motion creates smooth, connected voice leading. When the progression loops, the bass returns from A to A# by half 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.