I Got it Bad and That Ain't Good in B

Duke Ellington / Paul Francis Webster(1941)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B

Chord Diagrams — I Got it Bad and That Ain't Good in B (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree

I Got it Bad and That Ain't Good 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 D# (ascending major third), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to G# (descending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to G# (descending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to C (ascending tritone), C to E (ascending major third), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to D# (ascending major third), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C (ascending major third), C to G (descending perfect fourth), G to C# (ascending tritone). 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.

swing4/4 · 26 bars · Form: AB

Chords: Bdim, B, D♯7, G♯m, C♯13, G♯m7, C♯m7, G♯9, C♯7, F♯7, C7, Em6, B7, E, B6, D♯m7, G♯7, Cdim, G7, C♯9.

Scales for Improvisation B bebop, B bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of B