HandyChords

C/B chord on guitar

C Major Over B. Notes: C, E and G.

C/B guitar chord diagram, open position×2Bbass3E31CRBEGCE
Open position · Easy

How to play C/B

  1. Put your index finger on the 2nd (B) string at fret 1 (C).
  2. Put your middle finger on the 5th (A) string at fret 2 (B).
  3. Put your ring finger on the 4th (D) string at fret 2 (E).
  4. Let the open G and high E strings ring.
  5. Don't play the low E string: skip it or mute it with a fretting finger.
  6. Strum from the A string down.
Lowest note: B (the root)Strings played: 5 of 6Other voicings: 3 below

All 4 ways to play C/B

Easiest first. Tap play to hear each one.
C/B guitar chord, open position×2Bbass3E31CRBEGCE

Open position

Easy
C/B guitar chord, open position×2Bbass3E31CR4G5BEGCG

Open position

Easy
C/B guitar chord, barre at fret 55fr2Bbass3E31G51CR1E34CRBEGCEC

Barre at fret 5

Hard
C/B guitar chord, barre at fret 55fr2Bbass3E31G51CR4G54CRBEGCGC

Barre at fret 5

Hard

Notes and theory

Croot
E3 · major third
G5 · perfect fifth

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 Cmaj and CM.

Keys that use C/B

C major IF major VG major IVD minor VIIE minor VIA minor III

More C chords

All C guitar chords
C guitar chord diagram×3CR2E31CRCEGCECmajorCm guitar chord diagram×3CR2Ebb31CR4G5CEbGCGCmminorC7 guitar chord diagram×3CR2E34Bbb71CRCEBbCEC7dominant seventhCm7 guitar chord diagram4fr××2G53CR1Ebb34Bbb7GCEbBbCm7minor seventhCmaj7 guitar chord diagram2G53CR1E3GCEGBECmaj7major seventhCsus4 guitar chord diagram×2CR3F41CR4G5CFGCGCsus4suspended fourthCsus2 guitar chord diagram×3CR1CR4G5CDGCGCsus2suspended secondCdim guitar chord diagram3fr××1CR2Gbb54CR3Ebb3CGbCEbCdimdiminishedCaug guitar chord diagram××3CR2E31G##51CRCEG#CCaugaugmentedC6 guitar chord diagram×4CR2E33A61CRCEACEC6major sixthC9 guitar chord diagram2CR3E34D9ECEGDEC9dominant ninthCadd9 guitar chord diagram×2CR1E33D9CEGDECadd9added ninthCm7b5 guitar chord diagram××1CR3Gbb52Bbb74Ebb3CGbBbEbCm7b5half-diminishedCdim7 guitar chord diagram××1Ebb33Abb72CR4Gbb5EbACGbCdim7diminished seventhC7sus4 guitar chord diagram5fr××1G51CR2F43Bbb7GCFBbC7sus4dominant seventh suspended fourthC5 guitar chord diagram3fr××××1CR3G5CGC5power chordCm6 guitar chord diagram3fr××1CR3G52Ebb34A6CGEbACm6minor sixthCm9 guitar chord diagram×1CR2Bbb74Ebb33G5CDBbEbGCm9minor ninth

C/B with another bass note

C/AC/AbC/BC/BbC/C#C/DC/EC/EbC/FC/F#C/G

major chords in every key

CC#DD#EFF#GG#AA#B

Questions

What notes are in the C/B chord?

C/B (C major over B) is made of three notes: C (root), E (major third) and G (perfect fifth). The slash means B is played as the lowest note.

How do you play C/B on guitar?

The easiest C/B is the "open position" shape. Put your index finger on the 2nd (B) string at fret 1 (C). Put your middle finger on the 5th (A) string at fret 2 (B). Put your ring finger on the 4th (D) string at fret 2 (E).

Is C/B hard to play on guitar?

No. The easiest version is rated easy and uses 3 fretted notes plus open strings.

What is the difference between C/B and Cm?

Only the third changes. C major uses a major third and sounds bright; C minor lowers that note by a half step, which makes it sound darker. The root and the fifth stay the same.

What key is C/B in?

C/B belongs to 6 keys: C major (as the I chord), F major (as the V chord), G major (as the IV chord), D minor (as the VII chord), E minor (as the VI chord) and A 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.