Nica's Dream in B

Horace Silver(1954)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
C
D♯7♭9♯11
C♯m7/F♯
BMaj9

Chord Diagrams — Nica's Dream in B (Guitar)

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Nica's Dream 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 G# to F# (descending whole step), F# to E (descending whole step), E to A# (ascending tritone), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to B (ascending unison), B to A# (descending half step), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to C# (descending whole step), C# to B (descending whole step), B to G# (descending minor third), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to B (descending whole step), B to D (ascending minor third), 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 G# by half step.

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 · 52 bars · Form: ABC

Chords: G♯mMaj7, F♯mMaj7, EMaj7, A♯m7♭5, D♯7♭9♯11, G♯m, C♯m7, F♯7, F♯m7, B7, B9, A♯7♯9, D♯7♯9, C♯m7/F♯, BMaj7, G♯7♭9, C♯7, BMaj9, Dm7, G7.

Scales for Improvisation B bebop, B bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of B