You Don't Know What Love Is in B

Gene de Paul / Don Raye(1941)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B

Chord Diagrams — You Don't Know What Love Is in B (Guitar)

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You Don't Know What Love Is 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 G (descending major third), G to F# (descending half step), F# to G (ascending half step), G to C# (ascending tritone), C# to A# (descending minor third), A# to A (descending half step), A to G# (descending half step), G# to B (ascending minor third), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G# (ascending tritone), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth). 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 F# 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.

swing4/4 · 27 bars · Form: AB

Chords: Bm7, G7, F♯7♭9, G9, C♯m7♭5, A♯7, Am7, G♯7, Bm6, Em7, A7, DMaj7, G♯m7, C♯7, F♯Maj7.

Scales for Improvisation B bebop minor, B bebop.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of B