When Sunny Gets Blue in B

Marvin Fisher / Jack Segal(1956)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B

Chord Diagrams — When Sunny Gets Blue in B (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree

When Sunny Gets Blue 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 C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to E (descending whole step), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to B (ascending whole step), B to D# (ascending major third), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to F (descending minor third), F to B (ascending tritone), B to D (ascending minor third), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to E (descending minor third), E to G# (ascending major third), G# to A# (ascending whole step), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C (ascending major third), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to G# (ascending minor third), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth). 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 C# by perfect fourth.

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 · 27 bars · Form: AB

Chords: C♯m7, F♯7, Em7, A7, BMaj7, D♯m7, G♯7, Fm7♭5, BMaj7/D♯, Dm7, G7, E7, G♯7♭9, A♯m7, D♯7♭9, G♯Maj7, Cm7, F7♯9, G♯m7, C♯7, F♯Maj7.

Scales for Improvisation B bebop, B bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of B