Night And Day in A
Night And Day in A
Night And Day in A: Cole Porter's masterpiece featuring a dramatic bVI-V-I resolution that creates immediate tension and release. Mixolydian over the dominant sections, Dorian on the ii chords, Bebop Major at home. Changes: Bm7b5 – E7 – AMaj7 – D#m7b5 – Dm7 – C#m7 – Cdim7 – Bm7 – G7 – CMaj7 – A6 – B7.
Night And Day in 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 B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D# (ascending tritone), D# to D (descending half step), D to C# (descending half step), C# to C (descending half step), C to B (descending half step), B to G (descending major third), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to A (descending minor third), A to B (ascending 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 B to B by unison.
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.