B major chord on piano (B)
B is B, D♯ and F♯. B is the white key just right of the group of three black keys. Press Play to hear it, then try it at half speed.
root position · B–D♯–F♯ · right hand 1-3-5
- Notes
- B · D♯ · F♯
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5
How to play B on piano
From B, go 4 half steps up to D♯ then 3 half steps up to F♯. Those 3 keys are B.
- Right hand: 1 on B, 3 on D♯ and 5 on F♯.
- Left hand: 5 on B, 3 on D♯ and 1 on F♯.
- On the keyboard it's white, black and black keys.
B inversions
- root position: B–D♯–F♯. Right hand 1-3-5.
- 1st inversion: D♯–F♯–B, with D♯ at the bottom. RH 1-2-5.
- 2nd inversion: F♯–B–D♯, with F♯ at the bottom. Fingers 1-3-5.
Nobody plays every chord in root position. The inversions let B sit wherever the previous chord left your hand.
Moving between B and its neighbours
Songs rarely hold B for long. Here's what your hand does on the moves that come up most.
- E (IV in B major): 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 on piano
- F♯ (V in B major): 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♯ on piano
- G♯m (vi in B major): 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 on piano
B is a major triad: bright, settled and stable. Major chords are the backbone of most songs; B is home in B major and a common IV or V in the keys around it. On piano you hear it best with the keys pressed together, then rolled.
Practice B in two minutes
Start with a broken chord, B D♯ F♯ D♯ B, then play it solid. Next, walk up through B–D♯–F♯ → D♯–F♯–B → F♯–B–D♯ without lifting your eyes to your hand.
The keys of B
B is a major chord, 1–3–5 from B. Root position, from the bottom: how B is built.
| Note | Key | Fingers | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| B | white key | RH 1 · LH 5 | root |
| D♯ | black key | RH 3 · LH 3 | major third |
| F♯ | black key | RH 5 · LH 1 | perfect fifth |
Keys and progressions with B
In B major, I–V–vi–IV on piano is B (B–D♯–F♯), F♯ (F♯–A♯–C♯), G♯m (G♯–B–D♯) and E (E–G♯–B). About the pop progression.
In B major, I–IV–V on piano is B (B–D♯–F♯), E (E–G♯–B) and F♯ (F♯–A♯–C♯). About the three-chord progression.
In B major, I–vi–IV–V on piano is B (B–D♯–F♯), G♯m (G♯–B–D♯), E (E–G♯–B) and F♯ (F♯–A♯–C♯). About the 50s progression.
B on guitar and ukulele
B on guitar and ukulele uses the same 3 notes in a different layout. See all three together.
Next to try on piano
Other major chords
B on piano: questions
What notes are in B on piano?
B, D♯ and F♯: B (white key), D♯ (black key) and F♯ (black key). Right hand 1-3-5, left hand 5-3-1.
How do you play B on piano?
Press B, D♯ and F♯ together (2 black, 1 white). Right hand: 1 on B, 3 on D♯ and 5 on F♯.
What are the inversions of B?
1st inversion (D♯–F♯–B) and 2nd inversion (F♯–B–D♯), after root position (B–D♯–F♯). Each keeps all the notes of the chord.
What does B look like on the keyboard?
white, black and black keys.
Checked automatically: no shape here plays a note outside B. Updated September 2026.