Ways to play B
Lowest on the neck first. Tap a shape to put it on the fretboard above and hear it. The numbers are fingers (1 is your index), × means leave that string out, and ○ means let it ring open.
What's in B
A major chord stacks a major 3rd (four half steps) and a perfect 5th (seven half steps) on the root. For B that gives B, D♯ and F♯. Every shape below is some arrangement of those three notes, with a few doubled in another octave.
| Note | Formula | Interval from B |
|---|---|---|
| B | 1 | Root |
| D♯ | 3 | Major 3rd |
| F♯ | 5 | Perfect 5th |
Major chords sound settled and bright. They are the I, IV and V of every major key, which is why so many songs get by on three of them.
The key of B major
Five sharps. B itself has no open shape, so most players use the A-shape barre at the 2nd fret. E and F♯ are the IV and V.
The seven chords built from the B major scale:
Songs in B major
- Sweet Caroline, Neil Diamond
Keys that use B
Every major and minor key whose scale contains all of B, D♯ and F♯, and the chord's Roman numeral in each. Minor keys marked harmonic get the chord from the raised 7th of the harmonic minor scale.
| Key | B is the |
|---|---|
| B major | I |
| F♯ major | IV |
| E major | V |
| E minor (harmonic) | V |
| E♭ minor | VI |
| G♯ minor | III |
| C♯ minor | VII |
Progressions to try
Related chords
The relative minor is G♯m, which shares its key signature. The parallel minor is Bm, same root with the 3rd lowered.
Other chords on B: