Bidin' My Time in B

George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin(1930)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A

Chord Diagrams — Bidin' My Time in B (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree

Bidin' My Time 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 G# (descending minor third), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to E (descending whole step), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to G# (descending minor third), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to B (descending whole step), B to D# (ascending major third), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to A# (ascending whole step), A# to C# (ascending minor third), C# to G# (descending perfect fourth), G# to G# (ascending unison), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to E (ascending minor third), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to F# (descending 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 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 · 25 bars · Form: A

Chords: BMaj7, G♯m, C♯m7, F♯7, E/G♯, B, G♯7, C♯m7♭5, B/F♯, D♯7, G♯, A♯m7, C♯/G♯, G♯m7, G♯m7♭5, C♯7, E/F♯, B6, F♯7sus4.

Scales for Improvisation B bebop, B bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of B