I Concentrate on You in B
I Concentrate on You 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 B (ascending unison), B to B (ascending unison), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to F# (ascending whole step), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to G# (ascending whole step), G# to D (ascending tritone), D to Cb (descending whole step), Cb to Cb (ascending unison), Cb to C# (ascending half step), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to C# (ascending whole step), C# to D (ascending half step), D to A (descending perfect fourth), A to Cb (ascending minor third), Cb to A (descending minor third), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to D (descending whole step), D to Cb (descending whole step), Cb to C# (ascending half step), C# to B (descending whole step), B to C# (ascending whole step), C# to E (ascending minor third), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to B (ascending unison), B to C# (ascending whole step), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to Cb (ascending minor third), Cb to C# (ascending half step), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to D# (ascending major third), D# to F (ascending whole step), F to F# (ascending half step), F# to D# (descending minor third), D# to D# (ascending unison), D# to D# (ascending unison), D# to D# (ascending unison), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to G# (ascending unison). 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 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.