Lonely Woman in B

Ornette Coleman / Margo Guryan(1959)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A

Chord Diagrams — Lonely Woman in B (Guitar)

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Lonely Woman 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 A (descending whole step), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G# (ascending tritone), G# to Cb (ascending major third), Cb to C# (ascending half step), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to F (ascending tritone), F to D# (descending whole step), D# to A (ascending tritone), A to D (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 D to B by minor third.

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 · 28 bars · Form: A

Chords: Bm7, Am7, D7, G♯m7♭5, C♭Maj7, C♯m7♭5, F♯7, Bm9, F7♭5, D♯7♯5, Am9, D13♯11.

Scales for Improvisation B bebop minor, B bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of B