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How Insensitive in B
How Insensitive in B: Jobim's bossa nova elegy descends chromatically through Melodic Minor and Harmonic Minor territory. Phrygian-flavored dominant chords give the harmony its Brazilian melancholy — keep lines close to the melody. Chords: Bm – A#dim7 – Am6 – E7/G# – Gmaj7 – Cmaj7#11 – C#m7b5 – F#7b9 – A#7 – G#dim7 – Am7 – D7 – G#m7 – C#7b9.
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 (descending half step), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to G (ascending minor third), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to C# (ascending half step), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to A# (ascending major third), A# to G# (descending whole step), G# to A (ascending half step), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G# (ascending tritone), G# to C# (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 C# to B by whole 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.