Feeling Good in B

Anthony Newley / Leslie Bricusse(1964)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
Bm/D
D/A
E9sus4
Bm/D
GMaj7♯11
E9sus4

Chord Diagrams — Feeling Good in B (Guitar)

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Feeling Good 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 E (ascending perfect fourth), E to F# (ascending whole step), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to G (descending major third), G to B (ascending major third), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to D (descending whole step), D to E (ascending whole step), E to E (ascending unison), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to D (ascending minor third), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to F# (descending half step), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to D (descending major third), D to D (ascending unison), D to E (ascending whole step), E to G (ascending minor third), G to G (ascending unison). 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 G to B by major third.

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 · 34 bars · Form: AB

Chords: Bm7, E9, F♯, Bm, G, Bm/D, E, DMaj7, E7, Em7, BmMaj7, D7, GMaj7, F♯7, F♯m, D, D/A, E9sus4, G6, GMaj7♯11.

Scales for Improvisation B bebop minor, B bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of B