On The Sunny Side Of The Street in A

J. McHugh()swing

On The Sunny Side Of The Street 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 C# (ascending major third), C# to D (ascending half step), D to E (ascending whole step), E to F (ascending half step), F to F# (ascending half step), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to B (ascending unison), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to D (descending whole step), D to B (descending minor third), B to A (descending whole step). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. The predominantly stepwise bass motion creates smooth, connected voice leading. 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 · 26 bars · Form: AB

Chords: A6, C♯7, D6, E, Fdim, F♯m7, B7, Bm, E7, A7, Em7, D, Bm7, A.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop, A bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A