How to practice Why Don't You Do Right? with play-along tracks?

Use the play-along backing track above to practice Why Don't You Do Right? in the key of B. Listen to the audio with bass, piano, and drums, start by playing the melody, then practice improvisation and soloing over the chord changes.

What scales to use for soloing over Why Don't You Do Right??

For soloing over Why Don't You Do Right?, recommended scales include: bebop minor, bebop. Use arpeggio patterns over each chord to create melodic lines that follow the harmony of this jazz tune.

Who composed Why Don't You Do Right??

Why Don't You Do Right? was composed by Kansas Joe McCoy / Herb Morand in 1936. It is a swing standard in 4/4 time. The original key is A; this page shows it transposed to B.

What key is Why Don't You Do Right? in?

The original key of Why Don't You Do Right? is A. The form is AB with 21 bars. This page shows the chart transposed to B.

What scales work for improvising over Why Don't You Do Right??

Recommended scales for Why Don't You Do Right? in B: bebop minor, bebop. Scales and arpeggios update in real-time as each chord plays, with context-aware analysis (e.g., Phrygian Dominant over secondary dominants).

How does the interactive backing track work?

The backing track plays with realistic walking bass, drum patterns, and voice-led chord voicings. Scales and arpeggios update in real-time as each chord plays. You can limit the fretboard zone for close-proximity voicings, toggle a reference melody, loop any section, and choose between multiple sound presets. Works for guitar, piano, bass, ukulele, and 7 more instruments.

Can I edit the chord chart?

Yes. You can modify the structure, chords, and arrangement of any standard to match your preferred version or create your own reharmonization.

Why Don't You Do Right? in B

Kansas Joe McCoy / Herb Morand(1936)swing

Do Re MiC D E

Section A

♬

Bm7/A

♬

Bm7/A

♬

Bm7/D

♬

Section B

♬

F♯7♯5

♬

F♯7♯5

♬

BPM: 120

Chord Diagrams — Why Don't You Do Right? in B (Guitar)

Display

FingerNoteDegree

Chord Voicings Closest Voicing

Bm7/A

Bm7/D

F♯7♯5

Why Don't You Do Right? 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 B (ascending unison), B to G (descending major third), G to F# (descending half step), F# to E (descending whole step), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to B (ascending unison), B to F# (descending perfect fourth), F# to G (ascending half step). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. The mix of stepwise and leap motion balances smoothness with harmonic drive. When the progression loops, the bass returns from G to B by major 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.

swing4/4 · 21 bars · Form: AB

Chords: Bm, Bm7/A, G7, F♯7, Em7, Bm7, Em6, Bm7/D, Bm6, F♯7♯5, GMaj7.

Scales for Improvisation B bebop minor, B bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of B