My Funny Valentine in A

My Funny Valentine in A

My Funny Valentine in A with chords Am – AmMaj7 – Am7 – Am6 – FMaj7 – Dm7 – Bm7b5 – E7b9 – G7 – CMaj7. Rodgers & Hart's haunting ballad features a descending chromatic bass line over the minor tonic. Practice chord voicings, scales, and audio playback in A.

My Funny Valentine in 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 A (ascending unison), A to F (descending major third), F to D (descending minor third), D to B (descending minor third), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to G (ascending minor third), G to C (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 C to A by minor third.

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.