My Shining Hour in B

Harold Arlen / Johnny Mercer(1943)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
C♯m/F♯

Chord Diagrams — My Shining Hour in B (Guitar)

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My Shining Hour 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 G# (descending minor third), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to A# (ascending major third), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to C# (descending whole step), C# to F# (ascending 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 C# (ascending major third), C# to D# (ascending whole step), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to B (ascending minor third). 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 B by unison.

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 · 32 bars · Form: A

Chords: BMaj7, G♯m, C♯7, F♯7, A♯m7♭5, D♯7♯9, C♯m/F♯, F♯m, B7, EMaj7, Em, A7, C♯m, D♯m7♭5, G♯7♯9, B.

Scales for Improvisation B bebop, B bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of B