Prince Albert in B

Kenny Dorham(1955)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
G7♯9♯5

Chord Diagrams — Prince Albert in B (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
G7♯9♯5
G - B - D♯ - F - A♯
F♯7♯9
EADGBE222221
2frEADGBE1113243frEADGBExx21348frEADGBEx2134x
Bm
EADGBE111342
7frEADGBE1111349frEADGBExx134210frEADGBExx3241
Em
EADGBE23
2frEADGBE113427frEADGBE1113429frEADGBE4312xx
A7
EADGBEx23
EADGBE111x25frEADGBE1111327frEADGBEx1324
DMaj7
EADGBE111xx
2frEADGBE111x435frEADGBE1113247frEADGBE111xx4
GMaj7
EADGBE321
3frEADGBE1114235frEADGBE11333x10frEADGBE11x324
G♯m
4frEADGBE111134
6frEADGBExx13427frEADGBExx324111frEADGBE111342
C♯7♯9
EADGBEx3241
3frEADGBEx2134x8frEADGBE2222x19frEADGBE111324
F♯Maj7
EADGBE111423
4frEADGBE11x3336frEADGBE111x439frEADGBE111324
F♯m
EADGBE111134
4frEADGBE11x3425frEADGBExx32419frEADGBE111342
E7
EADGBE21
5frEADGBEx3241x7frEADGBE1111349frEADGBE111xx2
AMaj7
EADGBEx213
EADGBE111x45frEADGBE1114237frEADGBE333x1
D♯m
EADGBExx1342
EADGBExx32416frEADGBE11134211frEADGBE111134
G♯7♯9
EADGBE222221
4frEADGBE1144325frEADGBE44xx3110frEADGBEx2134x
C♯Maj7
EADGBE111x43
4frEADGBE1113246frEADGBE11xxx39frEADGBE1x342x
A♯7♯9
EADGBEx123x
6frEADGBE1144327frEADGBExx213412frEADGBEx2134x
G♯7♭9
EADGBE111x2
4frEADGBE11xx235frEADGBE11xx2310frEADGBE11x234
Cm
EADGBEx3214
3frEADGBE1113425frEADGBE1142xx8frEADGBE111134
F7♯9
EADGBE111324
EADGBExx21347frEADGBEx2134x10frEADGBE111x23
A♯Maj7
EADGBE11x324
3frEADGBE111xx46frEADGBE1114238frEADGBE11333x
Gm
EADGBE2134
3frEADGBE1111345frEADGBExx134210frEADGBE111342
Fm
EADGBE111134
3frEADGBExx13428frEADGBE11134210frEADGBE1142xx
A7♯9
5frEADGBE114432
6frEADGBExx21348frEADGBEx421311frEADGBEx2134x
C♯m7♭5
4frEADGBEx1324x
5frEADGBE11xx248frEADGBE2x341x11frEADGBE222xx1

Prince Albert 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 half step), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), 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 G# (ascending half step), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to E (descending whole step), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D# (ascending tritone), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to A# (descending minor third), A# to G# (descending whole step), G# to C (ascending major third), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to G (descending minor third), G to F (descending whole step), F to A (ascending major third), A to C# (ascending major third). 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 C# to G by tritone.

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 · 42 bars · Form: AB

Chords: G7♯9♯5, F♯7♯9, Bm, Em, A7, DMaj7, GMaj7, G♯m, C♯7♯9, F♯Maj7, F♯m, E7, AMaj7, D♯m, G♯7♯9, C♯Maj7, A♯7♯9, G♯7♭9, Cm, F7♯9, A♯Maj7, Gm, Fm, A7♯9, C♯m7♭5.

Scales for Improvisation B bebop minor, B bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of B