The Way You Look Tonight in A

Jerome Kern Dorothy Fields()swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
Em7add11
G13
Bm7add11
Em7add11

Chord Diagrams — The Way You Look Tonight in A (Guitar)

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The Way You Look Tonight 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 F# (descending minor third), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to G (ascending minor third), G to F# (descending half step), F# to E (descending whole step), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D# (ascending tritone), D# to A (ascending tritone), A to B (ascending whole step), B to D (ascending minor third), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to C# (ascending half step), C# to E (ascending minor third), E to D# (descending half step), D# to G (ascending major third), G to F (descending whole step), F to B (ascending tritone), B to D (ascending minor third). 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 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.

swing4/4 · 49 bars · Form: AB

Chords: AMaj7, F♯m7, Bm7, E7, G13, F♯7, Em7add11, A7, D♯Maj7, A6, Bm9, Dm7, G7, CMaj7, C♯dim7, Em7, D♯dim7, G9, FMaj7, Bm7add11, DMaj7.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop, A bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A