Let's Face The Music And Dance in B

Irving Berlin(1936)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
C♯m7/F♯
C♯m7/F♯

Chord Diagrams — Let's Face The Music And Dance in B (Guitar)

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Let's Face The Music And Dance 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 C# (ascending whole step), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to F# (descending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to B (ascending whole step), B to B (ascending unison), B to B (ascending unison), B to F# (descending perfect fourth), F# to G (ascending half step), G to C# (ascending tritone), C# to B (descending whole step), B to A (descending whole step), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to G# (ascending half step), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth). 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 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 · 56 bars · Form: A

Chords: Bm, C♯m7♭5, F♯7♭9, BMaj7, F♯m7, B7, EMaj7, A7, Bm6, BmMaj7, Bm7, F♯7, G7, C♯m7/F♯, B6, Am7, D7, GMaj7, G♯m7, C♯m7.

Scales for Improvisation B bebop, B bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of B