Molten Glass in A#

Joe Farrell()swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
C♭Maj7
CMaj7♯11
A♯Maj7♯11
G♯Maj7♯11
F♯Maj7♯11

Chord Diagrams — Molten Glass in A# (Guitar)

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Molten Glass in A#

Key of A#

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 D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to A (ascending tritone), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to F# (descending half step), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to C# (ascending whole step), C# to D# (ascending whole step), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to C (descending half step), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to F# (ascending half step), F# to Cb (ascending tritone), Cb to E (ascending major third), E to C (descending major third), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to B (ascending tritone), B to D (ascending minor third), D to C (descending whole step), C to A# (descending whole step), A# to G# (descending whole step), G# to F# (descending whole step). 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 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 · 16 bars · Form: AB

Chords: A♯Maj7, D♯Maj7, Am7♭5, D7♭9, GMaj7, F♯m7♭5, B7, C♯m7, D♯m7♭5, G♯7♭9, C♯Maj7, Cm7♭5, F7♭9, F♯Maj7, C♭Maj7, EMaj7, CMaj7, FMaj7, BMaj7, DMaj7, CMaj7♯11, A♯Maj7♯11, G♯Maj7♯11, F♯Maj7♯11.

Scales for Improvisation A# bebop, A# bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A#