How Deep Is The Ocean in B
How Deep Is The Ocean in B
Irving Berlin's ballad moves through a striking series of fourth-based harmonic motion that opens up Dorian color on the minor passages, Bebop Major lyricism on the major sections, and Harmonic Minor tension on the minor dominant resolutions. The fourth-cycle harmonic logic gives the tune an unusually strong sense of forward momentum for a ballad. Voice leading across the fourth-based changes is the central harmonic challenge.
How Deep Is The Ocean 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 G# to A# (ascending whole step), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to F (ascending whole step), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), 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 F# (descending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to G# (ascending major third), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to D# (ascending whole step), D# to E (ascending half step), E to A (ascending 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 A to G# by half 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.