Do Re MiC D E

Old Country, The

Adderley-Lewis4/4medium-swing

Chord Diagrams — Old Country, The in B (Guitar)

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Old Country, The 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 E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), 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 A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to E (ascending tritone), E to D (descending whole step), D to E (ascending whole step), E to G (ascending minor third), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to B (ascending tritone). 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.

medium-swing4/4 · 24 bars · Form: A

Chords: Bm7♭5, E7♯9, Am7, D9, G13, C7♯9, F13, A♯7♯9, E7♭13, Dm7, E7♭9, G7, Cmaj7, Fmaj7, B7.

Scales for Improvisation B bebop minor, B bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of B