Quasimodo in B

Charlie Parker(1947)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A

Chord Diagrams — Quasimodo in B (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
F♯13
EADGBE2314
EADGBE1112347frEADGBEx42319frEADGBE111134
BMaj7
EADGBE111324
4frEADGBE111xx47frEADGBE1114239frEADGBE11333x
A♯7
EADGBE111x34
6frEADGBE1111328frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBEx3241x
C♯m7
4frEADGBE111x32
5frEADGBExx23149frEADGBE11111411frEADGBExx1423
F♯7
EADGBE111132
4frEADGBE11x3247frEADGBEx3241x9frEADGBE111134
G♯7♭9
EADGBE111x2
4frEADGBE11xx235frEADGBE11xx2310frEADGBE11x234
D♯7
EADGBExx1324
6frEADGBE111x348frEADGBE111xx211frEADGBE111132
G♯m7
4frEADGBE111113
6frEADGBE11x4239frEADGBE11x23x11frEADGBE111132
Fm7
EADGBE111113
3frEADGBExx14238frEADGBE1111329frEADGBExx2314
D♯mMaj7add9add11add13
G♯7♭5
3frEADGBE2x341x
6frEADGBExx12349frEADGBE11x24311frEADGBE11x23x
C♯7
EADGBEx3241x
4frEADGBE111x346frEADGBE1114329frEADGBE111132
F♯6
EADGBE2x143x
EADGBE11x3244frEADGBE111x349frEADGBE3333x1
D♯m7
EADGBExx1423
6frEADGBE1111327frEADGBExx231411frEADGBE111114
G♯7♯5
4frEADGBE1x234
6frEADGBExx14239frEADGBEx324111frEADGBE11x432
F♯m7
EADGBE111113
4frEADGBExx14239frEADGBE11113210frEADGBExx2314
B7
EADGBEx2134
EADGBE1111344frEADGBE111xx27frEADGBE111132
E6
EADGBE2314
EADGBE111345frEADGBEx4231x7frEADGBE3333x1
A♯m7
EADGBE111x32
EADGBExx23146frEADGBE1111138frEADGBE11x423
Fm7♭5
EADGBE1x23x
EADGBE222xx18frEADGBEx1324x11frEADGBE2134x
Em6
EADGBE123
EADGBE111325frEADGBE11x3248frEADGBExx2314
B6
EADGBEx312x
EADGBE3333x17frEADGBE1x324x9frEADGBE11xx34
C♯m7♭5
4frEADGBEx1324x
5frEADGBE11xx248frEADGBE2x341x11frEADGBE222xx1
F♯7♭9
EADGBE2134
3frEADGBE11xx238frEADGBE11x23412frEADGBE3241xx
F♯13♭9
EADGBE2314
EADGBE1112347frEADGBEx42319frEADGBE111134

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

swing4/4 · 34 bars · Form: A

Chords: F♯13, BMaj7, A♯7, C♯m7, F♯7, G♯7♭9, D♯7, G♯m7, Fm7, D♯mMaj7add9add11add13, G♯7♭5, C♯7, F♯6, D♯m7, G♯7♯5, F♯m7, B7, E6, A♯m7, Fm7♭5, Em6, B6, C♯m7♭5, F♯7♭9, F♯13♭9.

Scales for Improvisation B bebop, B bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of B