
Also note that the F and G# notes are a half-step away from E and A notes of the initial A chord, which creates a leading quality away from the A even before the C#7 resolves to F#m. What that means is that the V7-to-i dominant function in the key of the vi chord (F# minor) is borrowed in this key, leading from C#7 to the F#m chord. Functionally, the C#7 is a “V7 of vi” or “V7/vi” chord - a secondary dominant that temporary tonicizes the F#m that follows it. The verse starts with the A tonic and then moves to a non-diatonic III chord, C#7. (Brackets show where I moved a note for illustrative purposes). This song is really about the voice leading between chords, and to see what is really going on, let’s line up the individual notes, with the most significant ones bolded: A: E A C# This translates to I – V/vi – vi – I – IV7 – cto7 – I – V/II – II (V/V) – IV (and a chorus of I – bVII – IV). The main verse is A – C#7 – F#m – A – D7 – Ao7 – A – F# – B – D, and then the same thing but going into a mixolydian A – G – D chorus followed by the intro riff. The gist of the intro, although it varies each time, is:. The notes are structured on a blues-style A major pentatonic scale, mixing in a b3 (C note) moving up to the natural 3 and a b7 (G note) moving down to the natural 6 (bolded below). For the opening riff, your index finger should be on the open A chord at the 2nd fret, with your other fingers adding the riff notes off of that base. The solo is generally based in A major, but substituting in the relevant alterations over the non-diatonic chords, working in a bunch of chromatic passing tones, and switching to A mixolydian over the chorus.ĭeal is in the key of A major. The chorus is a mixolydian I – bVII – IV progression. These steps are provided by a C#7 secondary dominant V/vi chord an Ao7 common-tone diminished seventh chord an F# secondary dominant V/II chord and a II chord, B, which is arguably borrowed from the Lydian mode, but which I think is a V/V chord that deceptively resolves to the IV. The song is built out of I, IV, and vi chords connected by chromatic steps in between. Tldr: Deal is in A major and opens with a pentatonic blues-style riff on the open A chord.
