Mas Que Nada in B

Mas Que Nada in B

Mas Que Nada in B: Jorge Ben Jor's minor samba. Apply Dorian and Harmonic Minor scales to navigate the modal harmony. Chords: Bm7 – E9 – Emaj7 – A9 – F#maj7 – F#7#9 – F#9 – F#7b9 – F#9sus – Dmaj9 – D6 – E7 – A.

Mas Que Nada 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 E (ascending perfect fourth), E to E (ascending unison), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to F# (descending minor third), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to D (descending major third), D to D (ascending unison), D to E (ascending whole step), E to A (ascending perfect fourth). The predominantly stepwise bass motion creates smooth, connected voice leading. When the progression loops, the bass returns from A to B by whole step.

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.