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I'll Remember April in B
I'll Remember April in B: this pop standard turned jazz vehicle moves from a bright major opening to minor mid-section. Bebop Major and Dorian cover the two contrasting tonal areas — Mixolydian drives the dominant passages throughout. Chords: C#m7b5 – F#7 – F#7/c – D#m7 – G#9 – C#m7 – F#7b9 – B – CMaj7 – B69 – B6 – E9 – AMaj7 – G#m7 – C#7 – BMaj7 – Em7 – A7 – DMaj7 – Bm7 – D6 – C#m11 – A#m11 – D#9 – G#Maj7 – G#6.
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 C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to D# (descending minor third), 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 C (ascending half step), C to B (descending half step), B to B (ascending unison), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to G# (descending half step), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to B (descending whole step), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to B (descending minor third), B to D (ascending minor third), D to C# (descending half step), C# to A# (descending minor third), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), 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 root motion by larger intervals (fourths and fifths) gives each chord change a strong, decisive character. When the progression loops, the bass returns from G# to C# by perfect fourth.
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.