Misty in B
Misty in B
Misty in B — Erroll Garner's romantic ballad with chromatic inner voice movement and unexpected modulations. Bebop Major reveals the elegant passing chords; Lydian adds shimmer to the IV moments. Changes: BMaj7 – F#m7 – B7 – EMaj7 – Em7 – A7 – G#m7 – C#m7 – F#7 – D#m7 – G#7 – B6 – B7b9 – Fm7 – A#7 – C#7 – D#m7b5 – G#7b9.
Misty in 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 F# (descending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to E (ascending unison), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to G# (descending half step), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to D# (descending minor third), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to B (ascending minor third), B to B (ascending unison), B to F (ascending tritone), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to C# (ascending minor third), C# to D# (ascending whole step), D# to G# (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 G# 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.