A Bientot in B

Billy Taylor(1988)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
C♯m7/F♯
C♯m7/F♯
C♯m7/F♯
CMaj7♭5
GMaj7♭5
C♯m7/F♯
C♯m7/F♯
CMaj7♭5
C♯m7/F♯
C♯m7/F♯
C♯m7/F♯
C♯m7/F♯

Chord Diagrams — A Bientot in B (Guitar)

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A Bientot in B

Key of B

B major mixes barre and open elements. The B chord itself is a barre at fret 2, but E and A are comfortable open chords forming the IV and V. The open B string rings as the root, allowing creative drone-based arrangements. B is a intermediate-level key on guitar because the open B string rings as the root and the open E strings provide the 4th — useful for sus4 voicings and drone effects. This key mixes open and barre shapes, making it a good intermediate challenge that builds fretboard fluency.

Voice Leading

The bass line moves through B to C# (ascending whole step), C# to A# (descending minor third), A# to A (descending half step), A to G# (descending half step), G# to G (descending half step), G to C# (ascending tritone), C# to C (descending half step), C to E (ascending major third), E to G# (ascending major third), G# to G# (ascending unison), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to E (ascending unison), E to F (ascending half step), F to A (ascending major third), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to F# (descending half step), F# to F (descending half step), F to F# (ascending half step). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. The mix of stepwise and leap motion balances smoothness with harmonic drive. When the progression loops, the bass returns from F# to B by perfect fourth.

Scales for Improvisation

B 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, B Mixolydian adds the flat seventh for an authentic blues-rock edge.

swing4/4 · 64 bars · Form: AB

Chords: Bm7, C♯m7/F♯, A♯7♯9, Am7, G♯7♭5, GMaj7, C♯7♭5, CMaj7♭5, E7♭5, G♯7♯9, G♯m7♭5, C♯7♯9, F♯7♭5, Bm6, E7, Em7, F7, A7♭9, DMaj7, GMaj7♭5, F♯m7, F7♭9, F♯7♯9.

Scales for Improvisation B bebop minor, B bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of B