Reflections in B

Thelonious Monk(1954)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A

Chord Diagrams — Reflections in B (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
G9
EADGBE31
EADGBE11234x3frEADGBE1113249frEADGBE222221
G♯7
EADGBE111xx2
4frEADGBE1111326frEADGBE11x32411frEADGBE111134
A7
EADGBEx23
EADGBE111x25frEADGBE1111327frEADGBEx1324
BMaj7
EADGBE111324
4frEADGBE111xx47frEADGBE1114239frEADGBE11333x
F♯7♭9
EADGBE2134
3frEADGBE11xx238frEADGBE11x23412frEADGBE3241xx
C♯m7
4frEADGBE111x32
5frEADGBExx23149frEADGBE11111411frEADGBExx1423
Dm7
EADGBExx312
5frEADGBE1111326frEADGBExx231410frEADGBE111113
G♯13♭9
EADGBE111432
4frEADGBE1113244frEADGBE11123410frEADGBE44x213
D♯m7
EADGBExx1423
6frEADGBE1111327frEADGBExx231411frEADGBE111114
A♯m7♭5
EADGBEx1324x
EADGBE11xx245frEADGBE2x341x8frEADGBE222xx1
C7
EADGBEx3241
3frEADGBE1111345frEADGBE111xx28frEADGBE111132
C♯7sus4
EADGBE11x234
4frEADGBE1111346frEADGBExxx1239frEADGBE111134
Cdim
EADGBEx41x23
3frEADGBEx1243x6frEADGBE31x42x10frEADGBExx12x3
Caugadd9add7
Ddim
EADGBExx1x2
3frEADGBEx41x235frEADGBEx1243x8frEADGBE31x42x
G♯7♯11
3frEADGBE2x341x
6frEADGBExx123410frEADGBE11x23411frEADGBE111x23
D♯m7♭5
EADGBE222xx1
6frEADGBEx1324x7frEADGBE11xx2410frEADGBE2x341x
F♯7
EADGBE111132
4frEADGBE11x3247frEADGBEx3241x9frEADGBE111134
E13♯11
E - G♯ - B - D - F♯ - A♯ - C♯
B7
EADGBEx2134
EADGBE1111344frEADGBE111xx27frEADGBE111132
D♯7♯5
EADGBExx1423
6frEADGBE11x4329frEADGBE324111frEADGBE1x234x
E7♯11
EADGBE12
3frEADGBE31426frEADGBE11x23411frEADGBE111234
A♯m7
EADGBE111x32
EADGBExx23146frEADGBE1111138frEADGBE11x423
G♯m7
4frEADGBE111113
6frEADGBE11x4239frEADGBE11x23x11frEADGBE111132
C♯7♭9
EADGBE11x234
4frEADGBEx12347frEADGBE3241x9frEADGBExx1324
G♯m9
EADGBE11143
4frEADGBE1111347frEADGBE2213419frEADGBE2222x1

Reflections 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 G# (ascending half step), G# to A (ascending half step), A to B (ascending whole step), B to F# (descending perfect fourth), F# to C# (descending perfect fourth), C# to D (ascending half step), D to G# (ascending tritone), G# to D# (descending perfect fourth), D# to A# (descending perfect fourth), A# to C (ascending whole step), C to C# (ascending half step), C# to C (descending half step), C to C (ascending unison), C to D (ascending whole step), D to G# (ascending tritone), G# to D# (descending perfect fourth), D# to F# (ascending minor third), F# to E (descending whole step), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to D# (ascending major third), D# to E (ascending half step), E to A# (ascending tritone), A# to G# (descending whole step), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to G# (descending 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 · 32 bars · Form: A

Chords: G9, G♯7, A7, BMaj7, F♯7♭9, C♯m7, Dm7, G♯13♭9, D♯m7, A♯m7♭5, C7, C♯7sus4, Cdim, Caugadd9add7, Ddim, G♯7♯11, D♯m7♭5, F♯7, E13♯11, B7, D♯7♯5, E7♯11, A♯m7, G♯m7, C♯7♭9, G♯m9.

Scales for Improvisation B bebop, B bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of B