Felicidade in B

Felicidade in B

Felicidade in B — Tom Jobim / Vinícius de Moraes's bossa nova classic. Explore Bebop Major and Major Pentatonic scales over these sophisticated changes. Chords: Bmaj7 – F#7 – G#m7 – C#m7 – Emaj7 – D#m7 – G#7.

Felicidade in 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 F# (descending perfect fourth), F# to G# (ascending whole step), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to E (ascending minor third), E to D# (descending half step), D# to G# (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 G# to B by minor 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.