Easy Living in B

Ralph Rainger / Leo Robin(1937)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B

Chord Diagrams — Easy Living in B (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
BMaj7
EADGBE111324
4frEADGBE111xx47frEADGBE1114239frEADGBE11333x
Cdim
EADGBEx41x23
3frEADGBEx1243x6frEADGBE31x42x10frEADGBExx12x3
C♯m7
4frEADGBE111x32
5frEADGBExx23149frEADGBE11111411frEADGBExx1423
Ddim
EADGBExx1x2
3frEADGBEx41x235frEADGBEx1243x8frEADGBE31x42x
BMaj7/D♯
EADGBE111324
4frEADGBE111xx47frEADGBE1114239frEADGBE11333x
F♯m7
EADGBE111113
4frEADGBExx14239frEADGBE11113210frEADGBExx2314
B7
EADGBEx2134
EADGBE1111344frEADGBE111xx27frEADGBE111132
EMaj7
EADGBE312
EADGBE333xx14frEADGBE111x437frEADGBE111324
A7
EADGBEx23
EADGBE111x25frEADGBE1111327frEADGBEx1324
D♯m7
EADGBExx1423
6frEADGBE1111327frEADGBExx231411frEADGBE111114
G♯m7
4frEADGBE111113
6frEADGBE11x4239frEADGBE11x23x11frEADGBE111132
F♯7
EADGBE111132
4frEADGBE11x3247frEADGBEx3241x9frEADGBE111134
D♯7
EADGBExx1324
6frEADGBE111x348frEADGBE111xx211frEADGBE111132
G♯7
EADGBE111xx2
4frEADGBE1111326frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBE111134
C♯7
EADGBEx3241x
4frEADGBE111x346frEADGBE1114329frEADGBE111132
F♯7♭9
EADGBE2134
3frEADGBE11xx238frEADGBE11x23412frEADGBE3241xx
B
EADGBE111234
4frEADGBE111xx47frEADGBE1113429frEADGBE11x243
E7
EADGBE21
5frEADGBEx3241x7frEADGBE1111349frEADGBE111xx2
Am7
EADGBEx21
EADGBEx23145frEADGBE1111137frEADGBE11x423
D7
EADGBExx213
3frEADGBEx3241x5frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111132
GMaj7
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE1114235frEADGBE11333x10frEADGBE11x324
Em7
EADGBE2
EADGBE114237frEADGBE1111328frEADGBExx2314
Bm7
EADGBE111132
3frEADGBExx23147frEADGBE1111139frEADGBE11x423
G/F♯
EADGBE213
3frEADGBE1113425frEADGBE11x2437frEADGBE111432
Em7/D
EADGBE2
EADGBE114237frEADGBE1111328frEADGBExx2314
B/D♯
EADGBE111234
4frEADGBE111xx47frEADGBE1113429frEADGBE11x243

Easy Living 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 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 D# (ascending tritone), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), 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 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 B (descending perfect fourth), B to G (descending major third), G to E (descending minor third), E to B (descending 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 B by unison.

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 · 27 bars · Form: AB

Chords: BMaj7, Cdim, C♯m7, Ddim, BMaj7/D♯, F♯m7, B7, EMaj7, A7, D♯m7, G♯m7, F♯7, D♯7, G♯7, C♯7, F♯7♭9, B, E7, Am7, D7, GMaj7, Em7, Bm7, G/F♯, Em7/D, B/D♯.

Scales for Improvisation B bebop, B bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of B