Tea for two in A

Vincent Youmans / Irving Caesar(1924)swing

Tea for two 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 B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D# (ascending tritone), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to D# (descending perfect fourth), D# to C# (descending whole step), C# to E (ascending minor third), E to F# (ascending whole step), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to F# (descending perfect fourth), F# to D (descending major third). 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 D to B by minor 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.

swing4/4 · 32 bars · Form: A

Chords: Bm7, E7, A, D♯m6, G♯7, D♯m7, C♯, Em6, F♯7, Bm, F♯7♭9, Dm6.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop, A bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A