Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea in B

Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler(1931)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B

Chord Diagrams — Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea in B (Guitar)

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Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea 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 F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to E (ascending unison), E to A# (ascending tritone), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to C (descending minor third), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to F# (descending major third), F# to D# (descending minor third), D# to B (descending major third), B to D (ascending minor third), D to C# (descending half step). 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 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.

swing4/4 · 25 bars · Form: AB

Chords: B6, C♯m7, F♯7, F♯m7, B7, EMaj7, Em6, A♯7, D♯, Cm, Fm7, A♯9, F♯, D♯m, Bm6, D7, C♯7.

Scales for Improvisation B bebop, B bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of B