Who composed The Man I Love?

The Man I Love was composed by George Gershwin. It is a ballad standard in 4/4 time. The original key is Eb; this page shows it transposed to A.

What key is The Man I Love in?

The original key of The Man I Love is Eb. The form is AABA with 32 bars. This page shows the chart transposed to A.

What scales work for improvising over The Man I Love?

Recommended scales for The Man I Love in A: bebop, bebop major. 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.

The Man I Love in A

George Gershwin()balladSlowly

Do Re MiC D E

BPM: 120

Chord Diagrams — The Man I Love in A (Guitar)

Display

FingerNoteDegree

Chord Voicings Closest Voicing

F♯7♯5

The Man I Love in 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 unison), A to A (ascending unison), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to F# (ascending whole step), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to D (descending major third), D to E (ascending whole step), E to D (descending whole step), D to C# (descending half step), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to G# (ascending whole step), G# to G# (ascending unison), G# to F# (descending whole step), F# to C# (descending perfect fourth), C# to C# (ascending unison), C# to D (ascending 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 D to A by perfect fourth.

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.

ballad4/4 · 32 bars · Form: AABA

Chords: A, A7, Am7, Em, F♯7♯5, F♯7, Dm6, E7, DMaj7, C♯m, F♯m7, G♯7, G♯dim, F♯m, C♯7, C♯dim, D.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop, A bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A