B chord (B major) on guitar
B (B major) has three notes: B, D sharp and F sharp. Its formula is 1, 3, 5. In major keys, B is the I chord in B major, the IV in F# major and the V in E major.
B chord shapes
Finger 1 barres fret 2, then 3 on D, 3 on G, 3 on B.
Fingers: 2 on A, 1 on D, 4 on G.
Fingers: 2 on A, 1 on D, 3 on e.
Fingers: 4 on E, 3 on A, 1 on D, 2 on G.
Finger 1 barres fret 7, then 3 on A, 4 on D, 2 on G.
Finger 1 barres fret 4, then 4 on E, 3 on A.
Hear it and see every shape in ScaleSpace →
| Symbol | B |
|---|---|
| Also written | Bmaj, BM |
| Notes | B D# F# |
| Formula | 1 3 5 |
| Intervals | root, major third, perfect fifth |
| Type | Major chord |
B across the neck
Guitar · 6-string, tuned low to high: E, A, D, G, B, e. 24 frets.
- E string: fret 2 F# (5), fret 7 B (1), fret 11 D# (3), fret 14 F# (5), fret 19 B (1), fret 23 D# (3).
- A string: fret 2 B (1), fret 6 D# (3), fret 9 F# (5), fret 14 B (1), fret 18 D# (3), fret 21 F# (5).
- D string: fret 1 D# (3), fret 4 F# (5), fret 9 B (1), fret 13 D# (3), fret 16 F# (5), fret 21 B (1).
- G string: fret 4 B (1), fret 8 D# (3), fret 11 F# (5), fret 16 B (1), fret 20 D# (3), fret 23 F# (5).
- B string: fret 0 B (1), fret 4 D# (3), fret 7 F# (5), fret 12 B (1), fret 16 D# (3), fret 19 F# (5), fret 24 B (1).
- e string: fret 2 F# (5), fret 7 B (1), fret 11 D# (3), fret 14 F# (5), fret 19 B (1), fret 23 D# (3).
Swipe the chart sideways to see all of it.
Questions
What notes are in the B chord?
B (B major) has three notes: B, D sharp and F sharp. Its formula is 1, 3, 5. B is the root, D# is the major third and F# is the perfect fifth.
How do you play B on guitar?
The easiest shape is x24442. Finger 1 barres fret 2, then 3 on D, 3 on G, 3 on B.
What key is B in?
In major keys, B is the I chord in B major, the IV in F# major and the V in E major. It is diatonic to those keys, so it fits songs in any of them.
What is the difference between B and Bm?
B has a major 3rd, D#. Bm lowers it a half step to D, which is what makes it sound minor. The root and 5th stay the same.