There'll Be Some Changes Made in A

Benton Overstreet / Billy Higgins(1921)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A

Chord Diagrams — There'll Be Some Changes Made in A (Guitar)

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There'll Be Some Changes Made 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 F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to C# (ascending whole step), C# to E (ascending minor third), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to F# (descending perfect fourth), F# to G (ascending half step), G to A (ascending whole step), A to G# (descending half step), G# to A (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 A to F# 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.

swing2/2 · 19 bars · Form: A

Chords: F♯9, B9, C♯7, E7, Bm7, F♯7, G7, A6, G♯7, A.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop, A bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A