Good Bait in B

Tadd Dameron / Count Basie(1944)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
B7/D♯
A9♯11
F♯7♭9♯9♭5♯5

Chord Diagrams — Good Bait in B (Guitar)

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Good Bait 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 D# (descending minor third), D# to B (descending major third), B to B (ascending unison), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to B (descending minor third), B to F# (descending perfect fourth), F# to E (descending whole step), E to F# (ascending whole step), F# to E (descending whole step), E to E (ascending unison), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to G (ascending unison), G to F# (descending half step), F# to A (ascending minor third), A to G# (descending half step). 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 minor 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 · 26 bars · Form: AB

Chords: B6, G♯m7, C♯m7, F♯7, D♯m7, B7, B7/D♯, EMaj7, A9♯11, Dm7, BMaj7, F♯7♭9♯9♭5♯5, E6, F♯m7, E7, E7/G♯, AMaj7, D9♯11, Gm7, G13, F♯13, A7, G♯7.

Scales for Improvisation B bebop, B bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of B