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Wave in A#
Wave in A# — Jobim at his most harmonically refined, with elegant chromatic voice leading throughout. Lydian mode suits the floating tonic sections; Lydian Dominant captures the characteristic altered dominant sound. Changes: A#maj7 – F#dim7 – Fm7 – A#7b9 – D#maj7 – D#m6 – D13 – D7b13 – G9 – G7b9 – C9 – F#7 – F7 – A#m7 – D#7 – D#m7/F# – G#7/F# – C#maj7/F – C#m7/E – F#7/E.
Key of A#
A# (Bb) major requires barre chords rooted at fret 1 on the A string or fret 6 on the E string. Despite the barre demands, it is a common key in funk, New Orleans R&B, and brass band music. The open D string can ring as the major third for added color. A# is a intermediate-level key on guitar because the open D string is the major 3rd of Bb, adding a bright color if allowed to ring. Expect to rely on barre chords throughout, which builds hand strength and unlocks the entire fretboard.
Voice Leading
The bass line moves through A# to F# (descending major third), F# to F (descending half step), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to D# (ascending unison), D# to D (descending half step), D to D (ascending unison), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to G (ascending unison), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F# (ascending tritone), F# to F (descending half step), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to D# (ascending unison), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to C# (ascending unison), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth). 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 F# to A# by major 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.