My Romance in B

My Romance in B

A Rodgers and Hart standard with a sweeping melodic arc and chromatically rich harmonic movement, a favorite of Bill Evans.

My Romance 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 C# (ascending whole step), C# to D# (ascending whole step), D# to D (descending half step), D to F# (ascending major third), F# to D# (descending minor third), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to G# (ascending unison), G# to G# (ascending unison), G# to G# (ascending unison), G# to B (ascending minor third), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to A (ascending perfect fourth), A to F (descending major third), F to A# (ascending perfect fourth), A# to G (descending minor third). 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 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.