Misty in B

Erroll Garner(1954)balladBallad
B
Instrument
GuitarUkuleleBassPiano
A
A
B
A
BMaj7
F♯m7
B7
EMaj7
Em7
A7
BMaj7
G♯m7
C♯m7
F♯7
BMaj7
F♯7
BMaj7
F♯m7
B7
EMaj7
Em7
A7
BMaj7
G♯m7
C♯m7
F♯7
BMaj7
F♯7
F♯m7
B7
EMaj7
Fm7
A♯7
D♯Maj7
Fm7
A♯7
D♯Maj7
C♯m7
F♯7
BMaj7
F♯m7
B7
EMaj7
Em7
A7
BMaj7
G♯m7
C♯m7
F♯7
BMaj7
F♯7

Chord Diagrams — Misty in B (Guitar)

Misty in B

Misty in B with chords BMaj7 – F#m7 – B7 – EMaj7 – Em7 – A7 – G#m7 – C#m7 – F#7 – Fm7 – A#7 – D#Maj7. Erroll Garner's romantic ballad features lush harmonies that modulate through distant key centers. Practice piano voicings, chord diagrams, and improvisation scales in B.

Misty 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 B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to E (ascending unison), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to G# (descending half step), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to F (descending half step), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to D# (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 D# to B by major 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.

ballad4/4 · 32 bars · Form: AABA

Chords: BMaj7, F♯m7, B7, EMaj7, Em7, A7, G♯m7, C♯m7, F♯7, Fm7, A♯7, D♯Maj7.