Tenderly in B

Walter Gross, Jack Lawrence()swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
E9♯11
E13
A9♯11
F♯13
F♯13
C♯13
E9♯11
E13
A9♯11
C♯13
G♯7♯5

Chord Diagrams — Tenderly in B (Guitar)

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Tenderly 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 E (ascending perfect fourth), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to C# (descending minor third), C# to A (descending major third), A to D# (ascending tritone), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to G (ascending half step), G to G# (ascending half step), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to C# (ascending unison), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to G# (ascending whole step), G# to A# (ascending whole step), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to D (descending half step), D to D# (ascending half step), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to B (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 B to B 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 · 33 bars · Form: A

Chords: BMaj7, E9♯11, Bm9, E13, C♯m9, A9♯11, D♯m7♭5, G♯7♭9, C♯m7♭5, F♯13, Gdim7, G♯m7, C♯13, C♯m7, F♯7, G♯7, A♯m7♭5, D♯7, Ddim7, D♯m7, G♯7♯5, B6.

Scales for Improvisation B bebop, B bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of B