Up Jumped Spring in A

Freddie Hubbard()swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
F♯7♯5
F♯7♯5

Chord Diagrams — Up Jumped Spring in A (Guitar)

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Up Jumped Spring 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 F (ascending half step), F to F# (ascending half step), F# to E (descending whole step), E to D# (descending half step), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to D (ascending half step), D to A# (descending major third), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to B (descending major third), B to G# (descending minor third), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to B (descending whole step), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to G (ascending minor third), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to A# (descending whole step). 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 A# to A 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.

swing3/4 · 45 bars · Form: AB

Chords: AMaj7, F♯7♯5, Bm7, E7, Fdim7, F♯m7, Em7, D♯m7, G♯7, C♯m7, Dm7, A♯m7♭5, D♯7, Bm7♭5, G♯m7♭5, C♯7, B7, EMaj7, Gm7, C7, A♯Maj7.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop, A bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A