Shine in B

Ford Dabney / Cecil Mack / Tin Pan Alley / Lew Brown(1910)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A

Chord Diagrams — Shine in B (Guitar)

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Shine 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 F# (descending perfect fourth), F# to D# (descending minor third), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to E (ascending minor third), E to F (ascending half step), F to G# (ascending minor 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 G# to B by minor third.

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.

swing2/2 · 32 bars · Form: A

Chords: B, F♯7, D♯7, G♯m7, C♯7, E6, Fdim, G♯7.

Scales for Improvisation B bebop, B bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of B