Satin Doll in A#

Satin Doll in A#

A# Satin Doll: Ellington's chain of ii-V pairs moving through multiple key areas in a single phrase. Dorian over the iim7 chords, Mixolydian over the dominants — textbook bebop vocabulary. Changes: Cm7 – F7 – Dm7 – G7 – Gm9 – C9 – F#m9 – B9 – A# – D#7 – Fm7 – A#7 – A#7b9 – D#Maj7 – Gm7 – G#m7 – C7 – C7b9.

Satin Doll in 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 C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to D (descending minor third), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to G (ascending unison), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F# (ascending tritone), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to A# (descending half step), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to F (ascending whole step), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to A# (ascending unison), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to G (ascending major third), G to G# (ascending half step), G# to C (ascending major third), C to C (ascending unison). 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 C 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.