Nefertiti in A#
Chord Diagrams — Nefertiti in A# (Guitar)
Nefertiti in A#
Wayne Shorter's through-composed masterpiece from Miles Davis's second quintet, where the melody repeats while the rhythm section improvises freely.
Nefertiti 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 G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to G (ascending tritone), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to B (descending half step), B to B (ascending unison), B to A# (descending half step), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to E (ascending half step), E to D (descending whole step), D to G# (ascending tritone), G# to E (descending major third), E to A# (ascending tritone). 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 G# by whole step.
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.