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Bluff 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 D to F# (ascending major third), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to F (ascending tritone), F to B (ascending tritone), B to D (ascending minor third), D to A (descending perfect fourth), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to F# (descending minor third), F# to C# (descending perfect fourth), C# to G# (descending perfect fourth), G# to F# (descending whole step), F# to A (ascending minor third), A to B (ascending whole step), B to E (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 E to D 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 · 34 bars · Form: AB

Chords: D, F♯7, Bm, Fdim, Bm7, D/C, A7, Em7, Aaug, F♯m, C♯7, G♯m7, F♯7/E, Adim, B7, E7.

Scales for Improvisation B bebop minor, B bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of B