Jingle Bell Rock in B

Joe Beal / Jim Boothe(1957)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
B/F♯

Chord Diagrams — Jingle Bell Rock in B (Guitar)

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Jingle Bell Rock 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 C (ascending half step), C to F# (ascending tritone), F# to C# (descending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to C# (descending perfect fourth), C# to B (descending whole step), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to F (ascending half step), F to B (ascending tritone), B to G# (descending minor third), G# to A (ascending half step), A to G# (descending half step), G# to E (descending major third). 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 E to B 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.

swing4/4 · 26 bars · Form: AB

Chords: BMaj7, B, B6, Cdim7, F♯7, C♯m7, F♯aug7, C♯7, B7, E, Fdim7, B/F♯, G♯m7, A7, G♯7, Em6.

Scales for Improvisation B bebop, B bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of B