Someday My Prince Will Come in A#
Someday My Prince Will Come in A#
Someday My Prince Will Come in A#: the Disney waltz transformed into jazz's definitive 3/4 standard, popularized by Miles Davis. Bebop Major navigates the flowing triple meter; Dorian and Mixolydian color the secondary ii-V moments. Changes: A#Maj7 – D7#5 – D#Maj7 – G7#5 – Cm7 – C7 – F7 – Dm7 – C#dim – Fm7 – A#7 – D# – Edim – Cm7/f – A#.
Someday My Prince Will Come 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 A# to D (ascending major third), D to D# (ascending half step), D# to G (ascending major third), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to C (ascending unison), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to D (descending minor third), D to C# (descending half step), C# to F (ascending major third), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to E (ascending half step), E to C (descending major third), C to A# (descending whole step). 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 A# 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.