Groovin' High in B

Dizzy Gillespie(1945)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
A♯9/F
G♯9/D♯
F♯9/C♯
A♯9/F
G♯9/D♯
C♯m7/E

Chord Diagrams — Groovin' High in B (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree

Groovin' High 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 A# (descending half step), A# to A# (ascending unison), A# to A# (ascending unison), A# to G# (descending whole step), G# to G# (ascending unison), G# to G# (ascending unison), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to D# (descending minor third), D# to D (descending half step), D to C# (descending half step), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to C# (descending perfect fourth), C# to C# (ascending unison), C# to C# (ascending unison), C# to B (descending whole step). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. The predominantly stepwise bass motion creates smooth, connected voice leading. 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 · 32 bars · Form: A

Chords: B6, A♯9, A♯9/F, A♯7, G♯9, G♯9/D♯, G♯7, C♯7, F♯9, F♯9/C♯, F♯7, D♯m7, Dm7, C♯m7, F♯7♯11, C♯m, C♯m7/E, C♯m7♭5, B.

Scales for Improvisation B bebop, B bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of B