Por una Cabeza in A

Carlos Gardel / Alfredo Le Pera(1935)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
G/A
Am/C
Am/E
B7/F♯
B7♭9/F

Chord Diagrams — Por una Cabeza in A (Guitar)

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Por una Cabeza 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 A (ascending unison), A to B (ascending whole step), B to F (ascending tritone), F to E (descending half step), E to E (ascending unison), E to G (ascending minor third), G to A (ascending whole step), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to D (ascending unison), D to B (descending minor third), B to A (descending whole step), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to F (ascending half step), F to C (descending perfect fourth), C to A (descending minor third), A to A (ascending unison), A to B (ascending whole step), B to B (ascending unison). 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 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 · 33 bars · Form: A

Chords: A, Adim, Bm, Fdim7, E, E7, G/A, A7, D, Dm, B7, Am, Em, F, C, Am/C, Am/E, B7/F♯, B7♭9/F.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop, A bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A