Volare in B

Domenico Modugno / Franco Migliacci / Mitchell Parish(1958)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
C♯m7/F♯
A♯7♯5
C♯m/E
E/G♯
B7♯5

Chord Diagrams — Volare in B (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
B
EADGBE111234
4frEADGBE111xx47frEADGBE1113429frEADGBE11x243
Cdim7
EADGBExx1324
EADGBE11x2347frEADGBE112x3x10frEADGBE11xx34
C♯m
EADGBEx4213x
4frEADGBE1113426frEADGBE1132x49frEADGBE111134
C♯m7
4frEADGBE111x32
5frEADGBExx23149frEADGBE11111411frEADGBExx1423
F♯7
EADGBE111132
4frEADGBE11x3247frEADGBEx3241x9frEADGBE111134
Ddim7
EADGBExx23
4frEADGBE11x2347frEADGBEx243110frEADGBE111234
C♯7
EADGBEx3241x
4frEADGBE111x346frEADGBE1114329frEADGBE111132
G♯m7
4frEADGBE111113
6frEADGBE11x4239frEADGBE11x23x11frEADGBE111132
C♯m7/F♯
4frEADGBE111x32
5frEADGBExx23149frEADGBE11111411frEADGBExx1423
F♯
EADGBE111342
4frEADGBE11x2436frEADGBE1114329frEADGBE111234
G♯7♭9
EADGBE111x2
4frEADGBE11xx235frEADGBE11xx2310frEADGBE11x234
F♯7♭9
EADGBE2134
3frEADGBE11xx238frEADGBE11x23412frEADGBE3241xx
G♯m
4frEADGBE111134
6frEADGBExx13427frEADGBExx324111frEADGBE111342
G♯mMaj7
EADGBE11x243
4frEADGBE1111326frEADGBE11x34211frEADGBE11x423
G♯m6
EADGBE2x134x
4frEADGBE1112346frEADGBE111x329frEADGBE11x324
D♯m
EADGBExx1342
EADGBExx32416frEADGBE11134211frEADGBE111134
A♯7♯5
EADGBE11x432
6frEADGBE1x234x8frEADGBExx142312frEADGBEx213x4
D♯m7
EADGBExx1423
6frEADGBE1111327frEADGBExx231411frEADGBE111114
D♯7
EADGBExx1324
6frEADGBE111x348frEADGBE111xx211frEADGBE111132
C♯m/E
EADGBEx4213x
4frEADGBE1113426frEADGBE1132x49frEADGBE111134
E/G♯
4frEADGBE111432
EADGBE2312frEADGBExx12437frEADGBE111234
Em7
EADGBE2
EADGBE114237frEADGBE1111328frEADGBExx2314
B7♯5
EADGBEx2134
2frEADGBEx2137frEADGBE1x234x9frEADGBExx1423
A7
EADGBEx23
EADGBE111x25frEADGBE1111327frEADGBEx1324
DMaj7
EADGBE111xx
2frEADGBE111x435frEADGBE1113247frEADGBE111xx4

Volare 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 C (ascending half step), C to C# (ascending half step), C# to C# (ascending unison), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to D (descending major third), D to C# (descending half step), C# to G# (descending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to G# (ascending whole step), G# to F# (descending whole step), F# to G# (ascending whole step), G# to G# (ascending unison), G# to G# (ascending unison), G# to D# (descending perfect fourth), D# to A# (descending perfect fourth), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to D# (ascending unison), D# to C# (descending whole step), C# to E (ascending minor third), E to E (ascending unison), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to A (descending whole step), A to D (ascending perfect fourth). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. The predominantly stepwise bass motion creates smooth, connected voice leading. When the progression loops, the bass returns from D 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 · 52 bars · Form: A

Chords: B, Cdim7, C♯m, C♯m7, F♯7, Ddim7, C♯7, G♯m7, C♯m7/F♯, F♯, G♯7♭9, F♯7♭9, G♯m, G♯mMaj7, G♯m6, D♯m, A♯7♯5, D♯m7, D♯7, C♯m/E, E/G♯, Em7, B7♯5, A7, DMaj7.

Scales for Improvisation B bebop, B bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of B