Do Re MiC D E

Highway To Hell

AC DC (Scott-Young-Young)4/4rock♩= 112
A
E/F♯
E/F♯
E/F♯
E/F♯
E/F♯
E/F♯
E/F♯
E/F♯
E/F♯
E/F♯
E/F♯
E/F♯
E/F♯
E/F♯
E/F♯
A
E/F♯
E/F♯
E/F♯
%
E/A
E/F♯
E/A
E/F♯
E/A
E/F♯
%
E/F♯
E/F♯
E/F♯
E/F♯
E/F♯
B
E/F♯
E/F♯
E/F♯
E/F♯
E/F♯
E/F♯
E/F♯
%
E/A
E/F♯
E/A
E/F♯
E/A
E/F♯
C
E/A
E/F♯
E/A
E/F♯
E/A
E/F♯
E/A
E/F♯
E/A
E/F♯
E/A
E/F♯
B5

Chord Diagrams — Highway To Hell in B (Guitar)

Display
FingerNoteDegree
Starting fret
Open123456789101112
B
4frEADGBE111xx4
EADGBE111234
7frEADGBE111342
9frEADGBE11x243
E/F♯
4frEADGBE111432
EADGBE231
2frEADGBExx1243
7frEADGBE111234
A
5frEADGBE111342
EADGBEx234
2frEADGBE111x4
7frEADGBEx1243
F♯
4frEADGBE11x243
EADGBE111342
6frEADGBE111432
9frEADGBE111234
E/A
4frEADGBE111432
EADGBE231
2frEADGBExx1243
7frEADGBE111234
E
4frEADGBE111432
EADGBE231
2frEADGBExx1243
7frEADGBE111234
Esus4
2frEADGBE11234
EADGBE234
7frEADGBE111234
9frEADGBE11xx2
B5
B - F♯

Explore More

Highway To Hell 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 E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to F# (descending minor third), F# to E (descending whole step), E to E (ascending unison), E to E (ascending unison), E to B (descending perfect fourth). 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 B to B by unison.

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. Layer in the full major scale for melodic runs, reserving the pentatonic for riff-based phrases.

rock4/4 · 78 bars · Form: AABC

Chords: B, E/F♯, A, F♯, E/A, E, Esus4, B5.

Scales for Improvisation B bebop, B bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of B

Go deeper

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Guide · ScalesScales for jazz improvisationGuide · ScalesBebop scales guide