In a Sentimental Mood

In a Sentimental Mood in B

In a Sentimental Mood in B: Ellington's ballad moves between minor and major with aching beauty, favoring Dorian over minor chords and Melodic Minor over the tonic. Harmonic Minor colors the cadential V7 moments. Chords: Bm – BmMaj7 – Bm7 – Bm6 – Em – EmMaj7 – Em7 – C#m7b5 – F#7 – B7 – A7b9 – Dmaj7 – D6 – Cm7 – F7 – A#maj7 – Gm7 – A#6 – G7#5 – C7 – A7.

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 B (ascending unison), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to E (ascending unison), E to E (ascending unison), E to C# (descending minor third), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to A (descending whole step), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to D (ascending unison), D to C (descending whole step), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to G (descending minor third), G to A# (ascending minor third), A# to G (descending minor third), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to A (descending minor third). 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 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.