Two for the Road in A

Henry Mancini / Leslie Bricusse(1967)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
F♯m/E
F♯7sus4
B/D♯
F♯m/C♯
F♯m/E
F♯7sus4
Bm7sus4

Chord Diagrams — Two for the Road in A (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
G♯m7♭5
EADGBExx13
EADGBE2x341x6frEADGBE222xx111frEADGBEx1324x
C♯7
EADGBEx3241x
4frEADGBE111x346frEADGBE1114329frEADGBE111132
F♯m
EADGBE111134
4frEADGBE11x3425frEADGBExx32419frEADGBE111342
F♯m/E
EADGBE111134
4frEADGBE11x3425frEADGBExx32419frEADGBE111342
DMaj7
EADGBE111xx
2frEADGBE111x435frEADGBE1113247frEADGBE111xx4
Bm7
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBExx23147frEADGBE1111139frEADGBE11x423
E7
EADGBE21
5frEADGBEx3241x7frEADGBE1111349frEADGBE111xx2
G♯dim7
EADGBExx12
EADGBE112x346frEADGBExx132410frEADGBE111234
F♯7sus4
EADGBE111134
4frEADGBExx13247frEADGBE11x2349frEADGBE111134
F♯7
EADGBE111132
4frEADGBE11x3247frEADGBEx3241x9frEADGBE111134
Bm9
EADGBEx1234
3frEADGBE222x147frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE112234
E9
EADGBE213
EADGBE113x426frEADGBE2222219frEADGBE11112
B/D♯
EADGBE111234
4frEADGBE111xx47frEADGBE1113429frEADGBE11x243
Am7♭5
EADGBEx23x
4frEADGBE2x341x5frEADGBE1112347frEADGBE222xx1
B7♭9
EADGBE11x234
5frEADGBE3241xx7frEADGBE111x238frEADGBE11xx23
Em7
EADGBE2
EADGBE114237frEADGBE1111328frEADGBExx2314
A7♭9
EADGBE11x23
5frEADGBE1114236frEADGBE11xx2311frEADGBE11x234
D
EADGBExx132
2frEADGBE1114325frEADGBE11123410frEADGBE111342
F♯m/C♯
4frEADGBE11x342
EADGBE1111345frEADGBExx32419frEADGBE111342
Bm
EADGBE111342
7frEADGBE1111349frEADGBExx134210frEADGBExx3241
A6
EADGBE1111x
4frEADGBE2x143x5frEADGBE113x2410frEADGBEx4231x
DmMaj7
EADGBExx231
2frEADGBE11x425frEADGBE11142310frEADGBE111132
F♯m7
EADGBE111113
4frEADGBExx14239frEADGBE11113210frEADGBExx2314
C♯m7
4frEADGBE111x32
5frEADGBExx23149frEADGBE11111411frEADGBExx1423
Bm7sus4
A
EADGBEx234
2frEADGBE111x45frEADGBE1113427frEADGBEx1243

Two for the Road 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 G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to D (descending major third), D to B (descending minor third), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to G# (ascending major third), G# to F# (descending whole step), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to A (descending whole step), A to B (ascending whole step), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to F# (ascending major third), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to A (descending whole step), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to F# (ascending major third), F# to C# (descending perfect fourth), C# to B (descending whole step), B to A (descending whole step). 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 A to G# 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.

swing4/4 · 33 bars · Form: AB

Chords: G♯m7♭5, C♯7, F♯m, F♯m/E, DMaj7, Bm7, E7, G♯dim7, F♯7sus4, F♯7, Bm9, E9, B/D♯, Am7♭5, B7♭9, Em7, A7♭9, D, F♯m/C♯, Bm, A6, DmMaj7, F♯m7, C♯m7, Bm7sus4, A.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop, A bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A