How to practice Where or When with play-along tracks?

Use the play-along backing track above to practice Where or When in the key of A. Listen to the audio with bass, piano, and drums, start by playing the melody, then practice improvisation and soloing over the chord changes.

What scales to use for soloing over Where or When?

For soloing over Where or When, recommended scales include: bebop, bebop major. Use arpeggio patterns over each chord to create melodic lines that follow the harmony of this jazz tune.

Who composed Where or When?

Where or When was composed by Richard Rodgers / Lorenz Hart in 1937. It is a swing standard in 4/4 time. The original key is Eb; this page shows it transposed to A.

What key is Where or When in?

The original key of Where or When is Eb. The form is AB with 32 bars. This page shows the chart transposed to A.

What scales work for improvising over Where or When?

Recommended scales for Where or When in A: bebop, bebop major. Scales and arpeggios update in real-time as each chord plays, with context-aware analysis (e.g., Phrygian Dominant over secondary dominants).

How does the interactive backing track work?

The backing track plays with realistic walking bass, drum patterns, and voice-led chord voicings. Scales and arpeggios update in real-time as each chord plays. You can limit the fretboard zone for close-proximity voicings, toggle a reference melody, loop any section, and choose between multiple sound presets. Works for guitar, piano, bass, ukulele, and 7 more instruments.

Can I edit the chord chart?

Yes. You can modify the structure, chords, and arrangement of any standard to match your preferred version or create your own reharmonization.

Where or When in A

Richard Rodgers / Lorenz Hart(1937)swing

Do Re MiC D E

BPM: 120

Chord Diagrams — Where or When in A (Guitar)

Display

FingerNoteDegree

Chord Voicings Closest Voicing

F♯m11

DMaj9

Where or When 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 D# (descending minor third), D# to D (descending half step), D to C# (descending half step), C# to B (descending whole step), B to A (descending whole step), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to D (ascending unison), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to F# (descending half step), F# to E (descending whole step), E to G# (ascending major third), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to E (ascending unison), E to D (descending whole step), D to C# (descending half step), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to A (descending whole step). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. The mix of stepwise and leap motion balances smoothness with harmonic drive. When the progression loops, the bass returns from A to A by unison.

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 · 32 bars · Form: AB

Chords: AMaj7, F♯m7, D♯m7♭5, D7, C♯m7, Bm7, A7, DMaj7, Dm7, G7, F♯7, E7, G♯m7♭5, C♯7♭9, F♯m11, B9, E7♭9, Em9, DMaj9, C♯m7♭5, F♯7♭9, B7, A6.

Scales for Improvisation A bebop, A bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A