HandyChords

B chord on piano

B Major. Notes: B, D# and F#.

B piano chord, root positionBC4C5D#F#
Root position. Tap any key to hear it.

How to play B

  1. Find B just below middle C. That is the root.
  2. Add D# and F# above it, skipping the keys in between.
  3. Right hand fingering: 1-3-5 (thumb, middle, pinky). Left hand: 5-3-1 (pinky, middle, thumb).

Notes

Broot
D#3 · major third
F#5 · perfect fifth

B inversions

An inversion moves the lowest note up an octave. Same notes, smoother jumps between chords.

B Root positionBC4C5D#F#

Root position

B · D# · F#
B 1st inversionC4BC5D#F#

1st inversion

D# · F# · B
B 2nd inversionC4BC5F#D#

2nd inversion

F# · B · D#

Notes and theory

Broot
D#3 · major third
F#5 · 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 Bmaj and BM.

Keys that use B

E major VF sharp major IVB major IC sharp minor VIIE flat minor VIG sharp minor III
B on guitarB on ukulele

More B chords

All B piano chords
Bm piano chordC3C4BmminorB7 piano chordC3C4B7dominant seventhBm7 piano chordC3C4Bm7minor seventhBmaj7 piano chordC3C4Bmaj7major seventhBsus4 piano chordC3C4Bsus4suspended fourthBsus2 piano chordC3C4Bsus2suspended secondBdim piano chordC3C4BdimdiminishedBaug piano chordC3C4BaugaugmentedB6 piano chordC3C4B6major sixthB9 piano chordC3C4C5B9dominant ninthBadd9 piano chordC3C4C5Badd9added ninthBm7b5 piano chordC3C4Bm7b5half-diminishedBdim7 piano chordC3C4Bdim7diminished seventhB7sus4 piano chordC3C4B7sus4dominant seventh suspended fourthB5 piano chordC3C4B5power chordBm6 piano chordC3C4Bm6minor sixthBm9 piano chordC3C4C5Bm9minor ninthBmaj9 piano chordC3C4C5Bmaj9major ninth

major chords in every key

CC#DD#EFF#GG#AA#B

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 piano?

Play B, D# and F# together. With the right hand use fingers 1-3-5 (thumb, middle, pinky); with the left hand use 5-3-1 (pinky, middle, thumb).

What are the inversions of B?

Root position: B D# F#. 1st inversion: D# F# B. 2nd inversion: F# B D#.

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.