Along Came Betty in B

Benny Golson(1958)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
C7♭9♯5
A♯13
A♯7♯5
BMaj9

Chord Diagrams — Along Came Betty in B (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
C♯m7
4frEADGBE111x32
5frEADGBExx23149frEADGBE11111411frEADGBExx1423
Dm7
EADGBExx312
5frEADGBE1111326frEADGBExx231410frEADGBE111113
G7
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE1111325frEADGBE11x32410frEADGBE111134
C7♭9
EADGBE11x234
6frEADGBE3241xx8frEADGBE111x239frEADGBExx3142
B7
EADGBEx2134
EADGBE1111344frEADGBE111xx27frEADGBE111132
A♯Maj7
EADGBE11x324
3frEADGBE111xx46frEADGBE1114238frEADGBE11333x
A7
EADGBEx23
EADGBE111x25frEADGBE1111327frEADGBEx1324
Am7
EADGBEx21
EADGBEx23145frEADGBE1111137frEADGBE11x423
A♯m7
EADGBE111x32
EADGBExx23146frEADGBE1111138frEADGBE11x423
D♯7
EADGBExx1324
6frEADGBE111x348frEADGBE111xx211frEADGBE111132
D♯9
EADGBExx132
5frEADGBE2222x110frEADGBE3142xx11frEADGBE111324
G♯Maj7
4frEADGBE111423
6frEADGBE11x3339frEADGBEx3241x11frEADGBE111324
C7♭9♯5
C - E - G♯ - B♭ - D♭
Fm7
EADGBE111113
3frEADGBExx14238frEADGBE1111329frEADGBExx2314
A♯13
EADGBE44x12
4frEADGBE11326frEADGBE11123412frEADGBE44x213
A♯7♯5
EADGBE11x432
6frEADGBE1x234x8frEADGBExx142312frEADGBEx213x4
D♯m7
EADGBExx1423
6frEADGBE1111327frEADGBExx231411frEADGBE111114
G♯7♭9
EADGBE111x2
4frEADGBE11xx235frEADGBE11xx2310frEADGBE11x234
Cm7♭5
EADGBEx1324x
4frEADGBE11xx248frEADGBE11123410frEADGBE333xx1
F7♭9
EADGBE111423
EADGBE11xx237frEADGBE11x23411frEADGBE3241xx
Gm7♭5
EADGBE3xx421
EADGBE2x341x5frEADGBE222xx110frEADGBEx1324x
G♯m7
4frEADGBE111113
6frEADGBE11x4239frEADGBE11x23x11frEADGBE111132
C♯7
EADGBEx3241x
4frEADGBE111x346frEADGBE1114329frEADGBE111132
G9
EADGBE31
EADGBE11234x3frEADGBE1113249frEADGBE222221
D♯m7♭5
EADGBE222xx1
6frEADGBEx1324x7frEADGBE11xx2410frEADGBE2x341x
G♯7
EADGBE111xx2
4frEADGBE1111326frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBE111134
C♯m7♭5
4frEADGBEx1324x
5frEADGBE11xx248frEADGBE2x341x11frEADGBE222xx1
F♯7♯9
EADGBE222221
2frEADGBE1113243frEADGBExx21348frEADGBEx2134x
BMaj9

Along Came Betty 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 C# to D (ascending half step), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to B (descending half step), B to A# (descending half step), A# to A (descending half step), A to A (ascending unison), A to A# (ascending half step), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to D# (ascending unison), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C (ascending major third), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to A# (ascending unison), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C (ascending major third), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to G (ascending whole step), G to G# (ascending half step), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to G (ascending tritone), G to D# (descending major third), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending 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 C# 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.

swing4/4 · 34 bars · Form: A

Chords: C♯m7, Dm7, G7, C7♭9, B7, A♯Maj7, A7, Am7, A♯m7, D♯7, D♯9, G♯Maj7, C7♭9♯5, Fm7, A♯13, A♯7♯5, D♯m7, G♯7♭9, Cm7♭5, F7♭9, Gm7♭5, G♯m7, C♯7, G9, D♯m7♭5, G♯7, C♯m7♭5, F♯7♯9, BMaj9.

Scales for Improvisation B bebop, B bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of B