How to practice Speak No Evil with play-along tracks?

Use the play-along backing track above to practice Speak No Evil in the key of A. Listen to the audio with bass, piano, and drums, start by playing the melody, then practice improvisation and soloing over the chord changes.

What scales to use for soloing over Speak No Evil?

For soloing over Speak No Evil, recommended scales include: bebop minor, bebop. Use arpeggio patterns over each chord to create melodic lines that follow the harmony of this jazz tune.

Who composed Speak No Evil?

Speak No Evil was composed by Shorter Wayne. It is a medium-swing standard in 4/4 time. The original key is C; this page shows it transposed to A.

What key is Speak No Evil in?

The original key of Speak No Evil is C. The form is ABA with 50 bars. This page shows the chart transposed to A.

What scales work for improvising over Speak No Evil?

Recommended scales for Speak No Evil in A: bebop minor, bebop. Scales and arpeggios update in real-time as each chord plays, with context-aware analysis (e.g., Phrygian Dominant over secondary dominants).

How does the interactive backing track work?

The backing track plays with realistic walking bass, drum patterns, and voice-led chord voicings. Scales and arpeggios update in real-time as each chord plays. You can limit the fretboard zone for close-proximity voicings, toggle a reference melody, loop any section, and choose between multiple sound presets. Works for guitar, piano, bass, ukulele, and 7 more instruments.

Can I edit the chord chart?

Yes. You can modify the structure, chords, and arrangement of any standard to match your preferred version or create your own reharmonization.

Do Re MiC D E

Speak No Evil

Shorter Wayne4/4medium-swing

BPM: 120

Chord Diagrams — Speak No Evil in A (Guitar)

Display

FingerNoteDegree

Chord Voicings Closest Voicing

Starting fret

Open123456789101112

B/E♭

A♯maj7♯11

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Speak No Evil 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 A# (ascending half step), A# to C (ascending whole step), C to C# (ascending half step), C# to B (descending whole step), B to G (descending major third), G to F# (descending half step), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to F (descending half step), F to E (descending half step), E to D# (descending half step), D# to D (descending half step), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to B (ascending major third), B to A# (descending half step). 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 A# to A by half 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.

medium-swing4/4 · 50 bars · Form: ABA

Chords: Am7, A♯maj7, Cm7, C♯m7, Bm7, Gm7, F♯7alt, F♯m7♭5, F7, Em7, D♯7♯11, Dm7, G7♯11, B/E♭, A♯maj7♯11.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop minor, A bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A

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