Little Brown Jug in B

Joseph Eastburn Winner / Glenn Miller(1869)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
C
B9/F♯
B9/F♯

Chord Diagrams — Little Brown Jug in B (Guitar)

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Little Brown Jug 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 E (ascending perfect fourth), E to F (ascending half step), F to F# (ascending half step), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to G (descending major third), G to F# (descending half step). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. The mix of stepwise and leap motion balances smoothness with harmonic drive. When the progression loops, the bass returns from F# 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 · 21 bars · Form: ABC

Chords: B6, E6, Fdim7, F♯7, B9/F♯, G7, F♯m7♭5.

Scales for Improvisation B bebop, B bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of B