Killing Me Softly with His Song in B

Charles Fox / Norman Gimbel /Lori Lieberman(1971)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
E/G♯

Chord Diagrams — Killing Me Softly with His Song in B (Guitar)

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Killing Me Softly with His Song 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 E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to B (ascending major third), B to A (descending whole step), A to F# (descending minor third), F# to E (descending whole step), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to C (descending whole step), C to B (descending half step). 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 B to E 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: A

Chords: Em7, A9, D, GMaj7, Bm7, A7, F♯7, E/G♯, A, DMaj7, CMaj7, B.

Scales for Improvisation B bebop minor, B bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of B