El Choclo in A

El Choclo in A

Ángel Villoldo compuso 'El Choclo' en 1903, uno de los primeros tangos publicados de la historia y el más exportado del género. La letra original era subida de tono (choclo = miembro viril en lunfardo); las versiones posteriores lo suavizaron. La melodía de Sol menor es inmediatamente reconocible — fue mundialmente famosa con la letra 'Kiss of Fire' (1952).

El Choclo 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 E (descending perfect fourth), E to C (descending major third), C to G (descending perfect fourth), G to D (descending 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 D 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.