What key is I Concentrate On You in?

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

ballad2/2 · 94 bars · Form: AA'BA''

Chords: La, LaMaj7, Re♯m7♭5, Sol♯7, Mim7, La7, ReMaj7, Sol♯m7♭5, Do♯7, Do♯m7♭5, Fa♯7♯5, Sim, Dodim7, Si75-/ces, Mi7, Sim7, La6, Re6, Mi7♭9, La♯9, La69, Rem7, Do♯m7, Fa♯7, Sol7, DoMaj7, Lam7, Lam/des, Fa♯m7♭5, Si7, Mi, MiMaj7.

Scales for Improvisation La bebop, La bebop major.