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Life On Mars 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 A (ascending unison), A to A (ascending unison), A to F# (descending minor third), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to B (ascending unison), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to E (ascending unison), E to C (descending major third), C to G# (descending major third), G# to A (ascending half step), A to C (ascending minor third), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to C# (descending major third), C# to D (ascending half step), D to F (ascending minor third), F to D (descending minor third), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to A# (ascending minor third), A# to E (ascending tritone), E to G (ascending minor third), G to D (descending perfect fourth), D to G# (ascending tritone), G# to A# (ascending whole step), A# to C (ascending whole step), C to C# (ascending half step), C# to D (ascending half step), D to A (descending 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 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.