O Grande Amor in A

Antonio Carlos Jobim / Vinicius DeMoraes(1963)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
E7♭9/G♯
E7♭9/G♯
Am7/E

Chord Diagrams — O Grande Amor in A (Guitar)

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O Grande Amor 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 A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to G (ascending minor third), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to B (descending half step), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to E (ascending tritone), E to D# (descending half step), D# to A (ascending tritone). 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 A to A 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.

swing4/4 · 32 bars · Form: A

Chords: Am7, E7♭9/G♯, Gm7, C7, Bm7♭5, E7♯9, A7♯9, Dm7, G7, CMaj7, FMaj7, A♯Maj7, Em7♭5, D♯dim7, Am7/E.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop minor, A bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A