Prelude in E Minor in A

Frédéric Chopin / Mulligan(1839)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
E7♭9sus4
A♯Maj7♯11
FMaj7♯5
E7♭9sus4
FMaj7♯11
FMaj7♯11
E7♯5
A7♯5
FMaj7♯11
E7♭9sus4
FMaj7♯11
E7♭9sus4
E7♭9sus4
Esus4♭9

Chord Diagrams — Prelude in E Minor in A (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
Am
EADGBEx231
2frEADGBE444x15frEADGBE1111347frEADGBEx1342
E7♭9sus4
E - A - B - D - F
E7♭9
EADGBE312
4frEADGBE11346frEADGBE11x23410frEADGBE3241xx
A♯7♯11
EADGBEx123
5frEADGBE11123x8frEADGBExx123412frEADGBE11x234
A♯Maj7♯11
A♯m6
EADGBEx13x24
3frEADGBEx2314x5frEADGBE2222x16frEADGBE111234
A7♭9
EADGBE11x23
5frEADGBE1114236frEADGBE11xx2311frEADGBE11x234
Am7
EADGBEx21
EADGBEx23145frEADGBE1111137frEADGBE11x423
D7♭9
2frEADGBExx431
4frEADGBE11x2345frEADGBE11x248frEADGBE3241xx
Dm7
EADGBExx312
5frEADGBE1111326frEADGBExx231410frEADGBE111113
Dm6
EADGBExx21
3frEADGBE11x3245frEADGBEx13x249frEADGBE2222x1
G9
EADGBE31
EADGBE11234x3frEADGBE1113249frEADGBE222221
G♯dim7
EADGBExx12
EADGBE112x346frEADGBExx132410frEADGBE111234
Gm7
3frEADGBE111113
5frEADGBE11x4238frEADGBE11x23410frEADGBE111132
C7
EADGBEx3241
3frEADGBE1111345frEADGBE111xx28frEADGBE111132
C7♭9
EADGBE11x234
6frEADGBE3241xx8frEADGBE111x239frEADGBExx3142
FMaj7♯5
FMaj7
EADGBExx321
EADGBE1114233frEADGBE11x3338frEADGBE111324
FMaj7♯11
E7♯5
EADGBE412
2frEADGBExx14237frEADGBE11x43212frEADGBE1x234x
Bm7♭5
EADGBEx1324x
6frEADGBE2x341x7frEADGBE1112349frEADGBE222xx1
A♯m7♭5
EADGBEx1324x
EADGBE11xx245frEADGBE2x341x8frEADGBE222xx1
A♯dim
EADGBEx1243x
4frEADGBE31x42x8frEADGBExx12x311frEADGBEx41x23
A7♯5
EADGBEx321
EADGBE11x235frEADGBE11x237frEADGBExx1423
Am9
EADGBEx2413
5frEADGBE1111348frEADGBE13210frEADGBE2222x1
B7♭9
EADGBE11x234
5frEADGBE3241xx7frEADGBE111x238frEADGBE11xx23
AmMaj7
EADGBEx312
5frEADGBE1111327frEADGBE11x3429frEADGBE11x42x
F7
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBE11x3248frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111xx2
Asus4
EADGBEx123
EADGBExx15frEADGBE1113337frEADGBE11x234
A
EADGBEx234
2frEADGBE111x45frEADGBE1113427frEADGBEx1243
Esus4♭9

Prelude in E Minor 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 E (ascending unison), E to A# (ascending tritone), A# to A# (ascending unison), A# to A# (ascending unison), A# to A (descending half step), A to A (ascending unison), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to D (ascending unison), D to D (ascending unison), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to G# (ascending half step), G# to G (descending half step), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to C (ascending unison), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to F (ascending unison), F to F (ascending unison), F to E (descending half step), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to A# (descending half step), A# to A# (ascending unison), A# to A (descending half step), A to A (ascending unison), A to B (ascending whole step), B to A (descending whole step), A to F (descending major third), F to A (ascending major third), A to A (ascending unison), A to E (descending perfect fourth). 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 E to A by perfect fourth.

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 · 54 bars · Form: AB

Chords: Am, E7♭9sus4, E7♭9, A♯7♯11, A♯Maj7♯11, A♯m6, A7♭9, Am7, D7♭9, Dm7, Dm6, G9, G♯dim7, Gm7, C7, C7♭9, FMaj7♯5, FMaj7, FMaj7♯11, E7♯5, Bm7♭5, A♯m7♭5, A♯dim, A7♯5, Am9, B7♭9, AmMaj7, F7, Asus4, A, Esus4♭9.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop minor, A bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A