B chord on guitar
B Major. Notes: B, D# and F#.
How to play B
- Lay your index finger flat across the 4th (D) to the 2nd (B) string at fret 4. This is the barre.
- Put your pinky finger on the 1st (high E) string at fret 7 (B).
- Don't play the low E and A strings: skip them or mute them with a fretting finger.
- Strum from the D string down.
All 4 ways to play B
Easiest first. Tap play to hear each one.Barre at fret 4
MediumBarre at fret 2
HardBarre at fret 7
HardBarre at fret 9
HardNotes and theory
The major triad is the bright, settled chord that most songs start and end on. The formula is 1 3 5, and you will also see it written as Bmaj and BM.
Keys that use B
More B chords
All B guitar chordsB with another bass note
major chords in every key
Questions
What notes are in the B chord?
B (B major) is made of three notes: B (root), D# (major third) and F# (perfect fifth).
How do you play B on guitar?
The easiest B is the "barre at fret 4" shape. Lay your index finger flat across the 4th (D) to the 2nd (B) string at fret 4. This is the barre. Put your pinky finger on the 1st (high E) string at fret 7 (B). Don't play the low E and A strings: skip them or mute them with a fretting finger.
Is B hard to play on guitar?
B has no open-string shape, so every version needs a barre or a stretch. The easiest one is rated medium. A shortcut: put a capo on fret 2 and play the open A shape, which sounds as B.
What is the difference between B and Bm?
Only the third changes. B major uses a major third and sounds bright; B minor lowers that note by a half step, which makes it sound darker. The root and the fifth stay the same.
What key is B in?
B belongs to 6 keys: E major (as the V chord), F sharp major (as the IV chord), B major (as the I chord), C sharp minor (as the VII chord), E flat minor (as the VI chord) and G sharp minor (as the III chord).
What does a major chord sound like?
The major triad is the bright, settled chord that most songs start and end on.