Oh! Look at Me Now in A

Joe Bushkin / John DeVries(1941)swing

Oh! Look at Me Now 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 D (descending whole step), D to D (ascending unison), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to A (ascending whole step), A to B (ascending whole step), B to F (ascending tritone), F to G# (ascending minor third), G# to F# (descending whole step), F# to D# (descending minor third), D# to C# (descending whole step), C# to B (descending whole step). The predominantly stepwise bass motion creates smooth, connected voice leading. When the progression loops, the bass returns from B to A by whole 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.

swing4/4 · 29 bars · Form: AB

Chords: A7, E7, DMaj7, Dm7, G7, AMaj7, B7, F7, G♯7, F♯7, D♯7, C♯m7, Bm7.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop, A bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A