My Funny Valentine in B

Richard Rodgers(1937)balladBallad
B
Instrument
GuitarUkuleleBassPiano
A
A
B
A
Bm
BmMaj7
Bm7
Bm6
GMaj7
Em7
C♯m7♭5
F♯7♭9
Bm
Bm
BmMaj7
Bm7
Bm6
GMaj7
Em7
C♯m7♭5
F♯7♭9
Bm
GMaj7
GMaj7
C♯m7♭5
F♯7♭9
Bm7
Em7
A7
DMaj7
GMaj7
C♯m7♭5
F♯7♭9
Bm
Bm
BmMaj7
Bm7
Bm6
GMaj7
Em7
C♯m7♭5
F♯7♭9
Bm

Chord Diagrams — My Funny Valentine in B (Guitar)

My Funny Valentine in B

My Funny Valentine in B with chords Bm – BmMaj7 – Bm7 – Bm6 – GMaj7 – Em7 – C#m7b5 – F#7b9 – A7 – DMaj7. Rodgers & Hart's haunting ballad features a descending chromatic bass line over the minor tonic. Practice chord voicings, scales, and audio playback in B.

My Funny Valentine 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 B (ascending unison), B to B (ascending unison), B to B (ascending unison), B to G (descending major third), G to E (descending minor third), E to C# (descending minor third), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to A (ascending minor third), A to D (ascending 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 D 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.

ballad4/4 · 32 bars · Form: AABA

Chords: Bm, BmMaj7, Bm7, Bm6, GMaj7, Em7, C♯m7♭5, F♯7♭9, A7, DMaj7.