Once I Loved (O Amor Em Paz) in B

Antônio Carlos Jobim / Vinícius de Moraes / Ray Gilbert(1960)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
A7♯5

Chord Diagrams — Once I Loved (O Amor Em Paz) in B (Guitar)

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Once I Loved (O Amor Em Paz) 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 E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to D# (ascending half step), D# to F (ascending whole step), F to F# (ascending half step), F# to D (descending major third), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to C# (ascending half step), C# to F (ascending major third), F to B (ascending tritone), B to A# (descending half step), A# to E (ascending tritone), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to G# (ascending half step), G# to G (descending half step), G to F# (descending half step), F# to F (descending half step), F to E (descending half step), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to B (ascending unison). 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 B to E by perfect fourth.

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 · 30 bars · Form: AB

Chords: Em7, A7♯5, DMaj7, D♯dim, Fdim, F♯m7, Dm7, G7, CMaj7, C♯m7♭5, F9, BMaj7, A♯9, E7, AMaj7, D7, GMaj7, G♯m7♭5, Gm6, F♯m6, F7♭5, Em7♭5, Bm6, B7.

Scales for Improvisation B bebop minor, B bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of B