When Sunny Gets Blue in A

Marvin Fisher / Jack Segal(1956)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B

Chord Diagrams — When Sunny Gets Blue in A (Guitar)

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When Sunny Gets Blue 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 B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to D (descending whole step), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to A (ascending whole step), A to C# (ascending major third), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to D# (descending minor third), D# to A (ascending tritone), A to C (ascending minor third), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to D (descending minor third), D to F# (ascending major third), F# to G# (ascending whole step), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to A# (ascending major third), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to F# (ascending minor third), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth). 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 E to B 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 · 27 bars · Form: AB

Chords: Bm7, E7, Dm7, G7, AMaj7, C♯m7, F♯7, D♯m7♭5, AMaj7/C♯, Cm7, F7, D7, F♯7♭9, G♯m7, C♯7♭9, F♯Maj7, A♯m7, D♯7♯9, F♯m7, B7, EMaj7.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop, A bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A