Wolverine blues in B

Jelly Roll Morton / Benjamin Franklin "Reb" Spikes / John Curry Spikes(1923)swing

Wolverine blues 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 F# (descending perfect fourth), F# to G# (ascending whole step), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to B (descending whole step), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to B (descending perfect fourth), B to C (ascending half step), C to C# (ascending half step), C# to E (ascending minor third), E to E (ascending unison). 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 E to B 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.

swing2/2 · 46 bars · Form: ABC

Chords: B, Bdim, F♯7, G♯7, C♯7, B7, E, B6, Cdim, C♯m7, E7, Em6.

Scales for Improvisation B bebop, B bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of B