'Round Midnight in A#

'Round Midnight in A#

Monk's iconic ballad masterpiece with dense chromatic harmony and descending bass lines, one of the most recorded jazz compositions of all time.

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