Now's The Time in A

Now's The Time in A

Bird's medium-tempo blues is a foundational text in jazz improvisation, weaving Mixolydian, Blues, and Bebop Major vocabulary into an irresistible A groove. The accessible tempo makes it ideal for internalizing bebop blues phrasing with nuance and swing. Every improviser should have the changes memorized as essential repertoire.

Now's The Time 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

This single-chord vamp invites melodic exploration over a static harmony.

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. Try the major blues scale — adding the flat 3rd as a passing chromatic note gives bends and slides an expressive, soulful quality.