B major chord (B)
B is B, D♯ and F♯: 1–3–5 built on B. Below: guitar, piano and ukulele, each playable.
On guitar
x-2-4-4-4-2 · barre · medium
- Notes
- B · D♯ · F♯
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5
- First shape
- x-2-4-4-4-2
B on guitar: every shape, finger by finger
On piano
root position · B–D♯–F♯ · right hand 1-3-5
- Notes
- B · D♯ · F♯
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5
B on piano: fingering and inversions
On ukulele
4-3-2-2 · movable · medium
- Notes
- B · D♯ · F♯
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5
- First shape
- 4-3-2-2
B and the chords around it
The moves below are the ones you'll meet most, shown for guitar and piano.
- B → E (IV in B major)
Guitar: B (x-2-4-4-4-2) to E (0-2-2-1-0-0): the index finger goes to the G string, 1st fret, your middle finger lands on the A string, 2nd fret, move the ring finger to the D string, 2nd fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. Listen for B, which stays put while the rest moves.
Piano: B to E: play E in 2nd inversion (B–E–G♯) and B stays under the same finger, while D♯ moves up to E and F♯ up to G♯. E - B → F♯ (V in B major)
Guitar: B (x-2-4-4-4-2) to F♯ (2-4-4-3-2-2): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 2nd fret, your middle finger lands on the G string, 3rd fret, move the ring finger to the A string, 4th fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. Listen for F♯, which stays put while the rest moves.
Piano: B to F♯: play F♯ in 1st inversion (A♯–C♯–F♯) and F♯ stays under the same finger, while B moves down to A♯ and D♯ down to C♯. F♯ - B → G♯m (vi in B major)
Guitar: B (x-2-4-4-4-2) to G♯m (4-6-6-4-4-4): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 4th fret, the middle finger goes to the A string, 6th fret, move the ring finger to the D string, 6th fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. Shared notes: B and D♯.
Piano: B to G♯m: play G♯m in 1st inversion (B–D♯–G♯) and B and D♯ stay under the same fingers, while F♯ moves up to G♯. G♯m
Guitar with a capo: capo 2, A shape; capo 4, G shape; capo 7, E shape. Ukulele with a capo: capo 1, B♭ shape; capo 2, A shape; capo 4, G shape; capo 6, F shape; capo 7, E shape.
How B is built
B is a major triad: bright, settled and stable. In the key of B major it is the home chord, the one a song lands on at the end.
Start on B, count 4 half steps up to D♯ then 3 half steps up to F♯.
| Note | Role | Half steps | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|
| B | root | 0 | |
| D♯ | major third | 4 | |
| F♯ | perfect fifth | 7 |
Keys and progressions with B
B belongs to 7 keys: I in B major, IV in F♯ major, V in E major, III in G♯ minor, V in E minor (borrowing the raised 7th), VI in E♭ minor and VII in C♯ minor.
I–V–vi–IV in B major runs B – F♯ – G♯m – E. the pop progression
Play I–IV–V in B major and you get B – E – F♯ – B. the three-chord progression
B – G♯m – E – F♯: that's I–vi–IV–V in the key of B major. the 50s progression
In B major, vi–IV–I–V is G♯m – E – B – F♯. the minor-feel pop loop
Chords close to B
- B and Bm differ by one note: D♯ in B, D in Bm. They share B and F♯. Bm
- B and G♯m differ by one note: F♯ in B, G♯ in G♯m. They share B and D♯. G♯m
Chords that share most of their notes with B: G♯m7, B7, Bmaj7, Badd9, B6, B9.
Every B chord
B major chord: questions
What notes are in the B major chord?
B, D♯ and F♯. B is built 1–3–5 from B: D♯ is the major third and F♯ is the perfect fifth.
How do you play B on guitar?
The usual shape is x-2-4-4-4-2 (barre). All 4 guitar shapes.
How do you play B on piano?
Play B, D♯ and F♯ with right-hand fingers 1-3-5. B sits just right of the group of three black keys. Inversions and left hand.
How do you play B on ukulele?
4-3-2-2 in standard GCEA tuning. More ukulele shapes.
What key is B in?
B belongs to 7 keys: I in B major, IV in F♯ major, V in E major, III in G♯ minor, V in E minor (borrowing the raised 7th), VI in E♭ minor and VII in C♯ minor.
What's the difference between B and Bm?
B and Bm differ by one note: D♯ in B, D in Bm. They share B and F♯.
All three instruments are drawn and played from B, D♯ and F♯ by the same engine. Updated September 2026.