Aquarela do Brasil in A#

Ary Barroso(1939)sambaSamba
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
C
D
E

Chord Diagrams — Aquarela do Brasil in A# (Guitar)

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Aquarela do Brasil in A#

Aquarela do Brasil in A# — Ary Barroso's samba classic. Explore Bebop Major and Major Pentatonic scales over these sophisticated changes. Chords: A#6 – A#m6 – G7b9#5 – G7b9 – Cm9 – F9 – A#maj9 – Cm7 – A#maj7 – E9b5 – A#7 – A7 – G#7 – G7 – Dm7b5 – Cm – Cm#5 – Cm6 – G#9 – A7#9 – Dm7 – Gm7 – C9 – F7b9.

Aquarela do Brasil in 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 A# (ascending unison), A# to G (descending minor third), G to G (ascending unison), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to C (ascending whole step), C to A# (descending whole step), A# to E (ascending tritone), E to A# (ascending tritone), A# to A (descending half step), A to G# (descending half step), G# to G (descending half step), G to D (descending perfect fourth), D to C (descending whole step), C to C (ascending unison), C to C (ascending unison), C to G# (descending major third), G# to A (ascending half step), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), 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 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.

samba4/4 · 51 bars · Form: ABCDE

Chords: A♯6, A♯m6, G7♭9♯5, G7♭9, Cm9, F9, A♯maj9, Cm7, A♯maj7, E9♭5, A♯7, A7, G♯7, G7, Dm7♭5, Cm, Cm♯5, Cm6, G♯9, A7♯9, Dm7, Gm7, C9, F7♭9.

Scales for Improvisation A# bebop, A# bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of A#