Sail Away

Sail Away 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 D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to D# (descending whole step), D# to G (ascending major third), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to G# (descending major third), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to D# (ascending whole step), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to F (descending minor third), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to F# (descending major third), F# to A# (ascending major third), A# to G (descending minor third), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to C (descending perfect fourth), C to G (descending perfect fourth), G to G (ascending unison), G to A (ascending whole step), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C# (ascending tritone), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to A (ascending minor third), A to C# (ascending major third), C# to C# (ascending unison), C# to D (ascending half step), D to D (ascending unison), D to E (ascending whole step), E to A# (ascending tritone), A# to G# (descending whole step), G# to F# (descending whole step), F# to F (descending half step), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to A (descending half step), A to A# (ascending half step), A# to F (descending perfect fourth), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to F (descending perfect fourth), F to D# (descending whole step), D# to D (descending half step), D to D (ascending unison), D to D# (ascending half step), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to F (descending minor third), F to A# (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 A# to D by major third.

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.