What key is Claudia in?

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 B (ascending unison), B to F# (descending perfect fourth), F# to E (descending whole step), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to E (descending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to C# (ascending tritone), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to G# (descending minor third), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to A (descending major third), A to D (ascending perfect fourth), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to F# (descending half step), F# to G# (ascending whole step), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to G (ascending half step), G to C# (ascending tritone), C# to C (descending half step), C to B (descending half step), B to A# (descending half step), A# to A (descending half step), A to C# (ascending major third), C# to E (ascending minor third), E to F# (ascending whole step). 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.

bolero4/4 · 81 bars · Form: Intro-ABCD-Coda

Chords: Bm, Bm♯5, Bm6, F♯dim7/C, Em7, Adim7, Em7/F, A7♭9, Dmaj9, G9♯11, C♯m7♭5, F♯7alt, Bm9, G♯m7♭5, C♯7♯5♭9, Am9, D7♭9, Gmaj9, F♯7♭9, G♯m9♭5, C♯13♭9, F♯7♭9♭5, G9, C♯7♭9, C9, B9, A♯, A, C♯7alt, Em9, F♯7♭9♯5.

Scales for Improvisation B bebop minor, B bebop.