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Naima in B
Naima in B: Coltrane's tender dedication to his wife holds a pedal tone bass beneath slowly shifting upper harmonies. Lydian and Dorian color the upper structures — Bebop Major lines connect the static, luminous chords. Chords: C#m7/Eb – F#m9 – Cmaj7/Eb – A#maj7/Eb – Bmaj7/Eb – Dmaj7/Bb – C#13b9 – G7#11/Bb – Bmaj7/Bb – Gmaj7#11/Bb – Bmaj7 – Emaj7.
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 C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to C (ascending tritone), C to A# (descending whole step), A# to B (ascending half step), B to D (ascending minor third), D to C# (descending half step), C# to G (ascending tritone), G to B (ascending major third), B to G (descending major third), G to B (ascending major third), B to E (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 E to C# 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.