Easy Living in B

Ralph Rainger, Leo Robin()swingMed
Do Re MiC D E
A
A
B
A

Chord Diagrams — Easy Living in B (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
BMaj7
EADGBE111324
4frEADGBE111xx47frEADGBE1114239frEADGBE11333x
Cdim7
EADGBExx1324
EADGBE11x2347frEADGBE112x3x10frEADGBE11xx34
C♯m7
4frEADGBE111x32
5frEADGBExx23149frEADGBE11111411frEADGBExx1423
Ddim7
EADGBExx23
4frEADGBE11x2347frEADGBEx243110frEADGBE111234
Bmaj7/a
EADGBE111324
4frEADGBE111xx47frEADGBE1114239frEADGBE11333x
F♯m7
EADGBE111113
4frEADGBExx14239frEADGBE11113210frEADGBExx2314
B7
EADGBEx2134
EADGBE1111344frEADGBE111xx27frEADGBE111132
EMaj7
EADGBE312
EADGBE333xx14frEADGBE111x437frEADGBE111324
A7
EADGBEx23
EADGBE111x25frEADGBE1111327frEADGBEx1324
G♯m7
4frEADGBE111113
6frEADGBE11x4239frEADGBE11x23x11frEADGBE111132
F♯7
EADGBE111132
4frEADGBE11x3247frEADGBEx3241x9frEADGBE111134
D♯7♯5
EADGBExx1423
6frEADGBE11x4329frEADGBE324111frEADGBE1x234x
G♯9
EADGBE11234x
4frEADGBE1113245frEADGBExx214310frEADGBE222221
C♯7♯5
EADGBEx4321
4frEADGBE11x4327frEADGBE431x29frEADGBE1x234x
F♯9
EADGBE111324
3frEADGBExx21438frEADGBE22222111frEADGBE1111x2
F♯7♭9
EADGBE2134
3frEADGBE11xx238frEADGBE11x23412frEADGBE3241xx
B
EADGBE111234
4frEADGBE111xx47frEADGBE1113429frEADGBE11x243
E7
EADGBE21
5frEADGBEx3241x7frEADGBE1111349frEADGBE111xx2
Am7
EADGBEx21
EADGBEx23145frEADGBE1111137frEADGBE11x423
D7
EADGBExx213
3frEADGBEx3241x5frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111132
GMaj7
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE1114235frEADGBE11333x10frEADGBE11x324
Em7
EADGBE2
EADGBE114237frEADGBE1111328frEADGBExx2314
D7/C
EADGBExx213
3frEADGBEx3241x5frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111132
Bm7
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBExx23147frEADGBE1111139frEADGBE11x423
Em7/D
EADGBE2
EADGBE114237frEADGBE1111328frEADGBExx2314
C♯m7♭5
4frEADGBEx1324x
5frEADGBE11xx248frEADGBE2x341x11frEADGBE222xx1

Easy Living in B

Easy Living in 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 half step), C to C# (ascending half step), C# to D (ascending half step), D to B (descending minor third), B to F# (descending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to G# (descending half step), G# to F# (descending whole step), F# to D# (descending minor third), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), 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 A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to E (descending minor third), E to D (descending whole step), D to B (descending minor third), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to C# (descending minor third). 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 · 41 bars · Form: AABA

Chords: BMaj7, Cdim7, C♯m7, Ddim7, Bmaj7/a, F♯m7, B7, EMaj7, A7, G♯m7, F♯7, D♯7♯5, G♯9, C♯7♯5, F♯9, F♯7♭9, B, E7, Am7, D7, GMaj7, Em7, D7/C, Bm7, Em7/D, C♯m7♭5.

Scales for Improvisation B bebop, B bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of B