Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive in B

Harold Arlen / Johnny Mercer(1944)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B

Chord Diagrams — Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive in B (Guitar)

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Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive 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 B (ascending unison), B to G# (descending minor third), G# to B (ascending minor third), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to E (ascending unison), E to G (ascending minor third), G to C# (ascending tritone), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to C# (descending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to G# (ascending whole step), G# to C# (ascending 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 C# to B by whole step.

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 · 28 bars · Form: AB

Chords: B, Baug, G♯m, B7, E, Em, G11, C♯m9, F♯9, C♯m7, F♯7, F♯aug, G♯7♭9, C♯7.

Scales for Improvisation B bebop, B bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of B