Reflections in A#

Thelonious Monk(1954)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A

Chord Diagrams — Reflections in A# (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
A♯Maj7
EADGBE11x324
3frEADGBE111xx46frEADGBE1114238frEADGBE11333x
G♯7
EADGBE111xx2
4frEADGBE1111326frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBE111134
G7
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE1111325frEADGBE11x32410frEADGBE111134
F♯9
EADGBE111324
3frEADGBExx21438frEADGBE22222111frEADGBE1111x2
Cm7
EADGBEx2134x
3frEADGBE1111324frEADGBExx23148frEADGBE111113
F7♭9
EADGBE111423
EADGBE11xx237frEADGBE11x23411frEADGBE3241xx
C♯m7
4frEADGBE111x32
5frEADGBExx23149frEADGBE11111411frEADGBExx1423
Dm7
EADGBExx312
5frEADGBE1111326frEADGBExx231410frEADGBE111113
G13♭9
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE11x2343frEADGBE1113249frEADGBE222x14
Am7♭5
EADGBEx23x
4frEADGBE2x341x5frEADGBE1112347frEADGBE222xx1
C7sus4
EADGBE11x234
3frEADGBE1111345frEADGBE11xx238frEADGBE111134
B7
EADGBEx2134
EADGBE1111344frEADGBE111xx27frEADGBE111132
Bdim
EADGBEx3x2
EADGBEx1243x5frEADGBE31x42x9frEADGBExx12x3
C♯dim
EADGBEx41x23
4frEADGBEx1243x7frEADGBE31x42x11frEADGBExx12x3
Baugadd9add7
Dm7♭5
EADGBE111xx
3frEADGBE11x3425frEADGBEx1324x8frEADGBEx1432
G7♯11
EADGBE111234
5frEADGBExx12349frEADGBE11x23410frEADGBE111x23
F7
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBE11x3248frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111xx2
A♯7
EADGBE111x34
6frEADGBE1111328frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBEx3241x
D♯13♯11
D♯ - G - A♯ - C♯ - F - A - C
Am7
EADGBEx21
EADGBEx23145frEADGBE1111137frEADGBE11x423
D♯7♯11
EADGBExx1234
5frEADGBE11x2346frEADGBE11x23x10frEADGBE111234
D7♯5
EADGBExx412
4frEADGBEx213x45frEADGBE11x43210frEADGBE1x234x
Gm7
3frEADGBE111113
5frEADGBE11x4238frEADGBE11x23410frEADGBE111132
Gm9
EADGBE2341
3frEADGBE1111346frEADGBE11xx28frEADGBE2222x1
C7♭9
EADGBE11x234
6frEADGBE3241xx8frEADGBE111x239frEADGBExx3142

Reflections in A#

Key of A#

A# (Bb) major requires barre chords rooted at fret 1 on the A string or fret 6 on the E string. Despite the barre demands, it is a common key in funk, New Orleans R&B, and brass band music. The open D string can ring as the major third for added color. A# is a intermediate-level key on guitar because the open D string is the major 3rd of Bb, adding a bright color if allowed to ring. Expect to rely on barre chords throughout, which builds hand strength and unlocks the entire fretboard.

Voice Leading

The bass line moves through A# to G# (descending whole step), G# to G (descending half step), G to F# (descending half step), F# to C (ascending tritone), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to C# (descending major third), C# to D (ascending half step), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to A (ascending whole step), A to C (ascending minor third), C to B (descending half step), B to B (ascending unison), B to C# (ascending whole step), C# to B (descending whole step), B to D (ascending minor third), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to F (descending whole step), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to A (ascending tritone), A to D# (ascending tritone), D# to D (descending half step), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to G (ascending unison), G to C (ascending perfect fourth). 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 C 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 · 32 bars · Form: A

Chords: A♯Maj7, G♯7, G7, F♯9, Cm7, F7♭9, C♯m7, Dm7, G13♭9, Am7♭5, C7sus4, B7, Bdim, C♯dim, Baugadd9add7, Dm7♭5, G7♯11, F7, A♯7, D♯13♯11, Am7, D♯7♯11, D7♯5, Gm7, Gm9, C7♭9.

Scales for Improvisation A# bebop, A# bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A#