My Ship in B

Kurt Weill / Ira Gershwin(1941)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B

Chord Diagrams — My Ship in B (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
B69
EADGBE11x234
6frEADGBE1112348frEADGBE2222x111frEADGBE11x432
G♯7♭9
EADGBE111x2
4frEADGBE11xx235frEADGBE11xx2310frEADGBE11x234
C♯9
EADGBE222221
8frEADGBE3142xx9frEADGBE11132410frEADGBExx2143
F♯7sus4
EADGBE111134
4frEADGBExx13247frEADGBE11x2349frEADGBE111134
F♯7
EADGBE111132
4frEADGBE11x3247frEADGBEx3241x9frEADGBE111134
G♯7♯9
EADGBE222221
4frEADGBE1144325frEADGBE44xx3110frEADGBEx2134x
C♯7
EADGBEx3241x
4frEADGBE111x346frEADGBE1114329frEADGBE111132
F♯7♭9
EADGBE2134
3frEADGBE11xx238frEADGBE11x23412frEADGBE3241xx
B6
EADGBEx312x
EADGBE3333x17frEADGBE1x324x9frEADGBE11xx34
A7
EADGBEx23
EADGBE111x25frEADGBE1111327frEADGBEx1324
C♯m9
EADGBE2222x1
5frEADGBE222x147frEADGBE333x129frEADGBE111134
A♯m7♭5
EADGBEx1324x
EADGBE11xx245frEADGBE2x341x8frEADGBE222xx1
D♯7♭9
EADGBExx24
5frEADGBE11x2346frEADGBE11x349frEADGBE3241xx
G♯m7
4frEADGBE111113
6frEADGBE11x4239frEADGBE11x23x11frEADGBE111132
C♯m7
4frEADGBE111x32
5frEADGBExx23149frEADGBE11111411frEADGBExx1423
C♯m7/F♯
4frEADGBE111x32
5frEADGBExx23149frEADGBE11111411frEADGBExx1423
Em6
EADGBE123
EADGBE111325frEADGBE11x3248frEADGBExx2314
BMaj7
EADGBE111324
4frEADGBE111xx47frEADGBE1114239frEADGBE11333x
Fm7♭5
EADGBE1x23x
EADGBE222xx18frEADGBEx1324x11frEADGBE2134x
A♯7
EADGBE111x34
6frEADGBE1111328frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBEx3241x
D♯m7
EADGBExx1423
6frEADGBE1111327frEADGBExx231411frEADGBE111114
D♯m
EADGBExx1342
EADGBExx32416frEADGBE11134211frEADGBE111134
G♯7
EADGBE111xx2
4frEADGBE1111326frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBE111134
C♯7sus4
EADGBE11x234
4frEADGBE1111346frEADGBExxx1239frEADGBE111134
Cdim7
EADGBExx1324
EADGBE11x2347frEADGBE112x3x10frEADGBE11xx34
BMaj9
F7♯11
EADGBE123
3frEADGBExx12347frEADGBE11x2348frEADGBE111x23
EMaj9
A7sus4
EADGBEx23
5frEADGBE1111347frEADGBEx132410frEADGBE11x234
D7
EADGBExx213
3frEADGBEx3241x5frEADGBE11113410frEADGBE111132
GMaj7
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE1114235frEADGBE11333x10frEADGBE11x324

My Ship 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 F# (ascending unison), F# to G# (ascending whole step), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to A (descending whole step), A to C# (ascending major third), C# to A# (descending minor third), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to C# (ascending unison), C# to E (ascending minor third), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to F (ascending tritone), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to D# (ascending unison), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to C (descending half step), C to B (descending half step), B to F (ascending tritone), F to E (descending half step), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), 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 major 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 · 32 bars · Form: AB

Chords: B69, G♯7♭9, C♯9, F♯7sus4, F♯7, G♯7♯9, C♯7, F♯7♭9, B6, A7, C♯m9, A♯m7♭5, D♯7♭9, G♯m7, C♯m7, C♯m7/F♯, Em6, BMaj7, Fm7♭5, A♯7, D♯m7, D♯m, G♯7, C♯7sus4, Cdim7, BMaj9, F7♯11, EMaj9, A7sus4, D7, GMaj7.

Scales for Improvisation B bebop, B bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of B