About A Quarter To Nine in B

Harry Warren / Al Dubin(1935)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
D/A
Em7/A
Em6/G
D7/A
Bdim/G♯
D7/A
Bdim/D
G/B
Bm/G♯
D7/A
Bdim/G♯
D7/A

Chord Diagrams — About A Quarter To Nine in B (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
Bm
EADGBE111342
7frEADGBE1111349frEADGBExx134210frEADGBExx3241
F♯7
EADGBE111132
4frEADGBE11x3247frEADGBEx3241x9frEADGBE111134
Em
EADGBE23
2frEADGBE113427frEADGBE1113429frEADGBE4312xx
Em7♭5
EADGBE33312
7frEADGBEx1324x8frEADGBE11xx2411frEADGBE2x341x
D/A
5frEADGBE111234
EADGBExx1322frEADGBE11143210frEADGBE111342
Em7/A
EADGBE2
EADGBE114237frEADGBE1111328frEADGBExx2314
A7
EADGBEx23
EADGBE111x25frEADGBE1111327frEADGBEx1324
D
EADGBExx132
2frEADGBE1114325frEADGBE11123410frEADGBE111342
Em6/G
EADGBE123
EADGBE111325frEADGBE11x3248frEADGBExx2314
F♯aug
EADGBExx4231
EADGBE11xx2x7frEADGBE11x32x11frEADGBE11432x
C♯7
EADGBEx3241x
4frEADGBE111x346frEADGBE1114329frEADGBE111132
C♯m7♭5
4frEADGBEx1324x
5frEADGBE11xx248frEADGBE2x341x11frEADGBE222xx1
D7
EADGBExx213
3frEADGBEx3241x5frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111132
G
EADGBE213
3frEADGBE1113425frEADGBE11x2437frEADGBE111432
Am7
EADGBEx21
EADGBEx23145frEADGBE1111137frEADGBE11x423
A♯dim
EADGBEx1243x
4frEADGBE31x42x8frEADGBExx12x311frEADGBEx41x23
D7/A
5frEADGBE111134
EADGBExx2133frEADGBEx3241x10frEADGBE111132
Bdim/G♯
EADGBEx3x2
EADGBEx1243x5frEADGBE31x42x9frEADGBExx12x3
Bdim/D
EADGBEx3x2
EADGBEx1243x5frEADGBE31x42x9frEADGBExx12x3
G/B
7frEADGBE111432
EADGBE2133frEADGBE1113425frEADGBE11x243
A♯7
EADGBE111x34
6frEADGBE1111328frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBEx3241x
D♯
EADGBExx1243
3frEADGBE11x4326frEADGBE11x2348frEADGBE111xx4
Cm
EADGBEx3214
3frEADGBE1113425frEADGBE1142xx8frEADGBE111134
Bm/G♯
EADGBE111342
7frEADGBE1111349frEADGBExx134210frEADGBExx3241
F♯m
EADGBE111134
4frEADGBE11x3425frEADGBExx32419frEADGBE111342
F♯m7
EADGBE111113
4frEADGBExx14239frEADGBE11113210frEADGBExx2314
B7
EADGBEx2134
EADGBE1111344frEADGBE111xx27frEADGBE111132
E7
EADGBE21
5frEADGBEx3241x7frEADGBE1111349frEADGBE111xx2
Bdim
EADGBEx3x2
EADGBEx1243x5frEADGBE31x42x9frEADGBExx12x3

About A Quarter To Nine 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 F# (descending perfect fourth), F# to E (descending whole step), E to E (ascending unison), E to D (descending whole step), D to E (ascending whole step), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to E (ascending whole step), E to F# (ascending whole step), F# to C# (descending perfect fourth), C# to C# (ascending unison), C# to D (ascending half step), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to A (ascending whole step), A to A# (ascending half step), A# to D (ascending major third), D to B (descending minor third), B to B (ascending unison), B to G (descending major third), G to A# (ascending minor third), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to C (descending minor third), C to B (descending half step), B to F# (descending perfect fourth), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to B (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 B to B by unison.

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.

swing2/2 · 41 bars · Form: AB

Chords: Bm, F♯7, Em, Em7♭5, D/A, Em7/A, A7, D, Em6/G, F♯aug, C♯7, C♯m7♭5, D7, G, Am7, A♯dim, D7/A, Bdim/G♯, Bdim/D, G/B, A♯7, D♯, Cm, Bm/G♯, F♯m, F♯m7, B7, E7, Bdim.

Scales for Improvisation B bebop minor, B bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of B