B major chord (B)
The B major chord (B) is a major triad made of B, D♯ and F♯: root, major third and perfect fifth.
It is the I in B major and the IV in F♯ major; its relative minor is G♯ minor, and F♯ dominant seventh leads into it as its V7.
Below: voicings, notes on the fretboard, ukulele, piano, inversions and progressions.
How to play B major on guitar
There are 2 guitar voicings.
Frets from the 6th string to the 1st: x = not played, 0 = open string.
- Voicing 1: x-2-4-4-4-2, barre at fret 2, with B in the bass (fingers x-1-3-3-3-1).
- Voicing 2: 7-9-9-8-7-7, barre at fret 7, with B in the bass (fingers 1-3-4-2-1-1).
Notes of the B major chord on the fretboard
B major has 3 notes: B, D♯ and F♯. This is where they fall on each string, from the nut to the 12th fret (fret number in parentheses):
- String 6 (E): F♯ (2) · B (7) · D♯ (11)
- String 5 (A): B (2) · D♯ (6) · F♯ (9)
- String 4 (D): D♯ (1) · F♯ (4) · B (9)
- String 3 (G): B (4) · D♯ (8) · F♯ (11)
- String 2 (B): B (0) · D♯ (4) · F♯ (7) · B (12)
- String 1 (E): F♯ (2) · B (7) · D♯ (11)
Formula and intervals of B major
Its formula is 1-3-5; in semitones from the root, 0-4-7.
- B: Root, the note that gives the chord its name
- D♯: Major third (M3), 4 semitones above B
- F♯: Perfect fifth (P5), 7 semitones above B
B major on ukulele
- Ukulele (G C E A): 4-3-2-2, barre at fret 2; it sounds B, D♯, F♯ and B.
B major on piano
- Keys: B4, D♯5 and F♯5.
Inversions of B major
Each inversion puts a different note in the bass.
- Root position: B, D♯ and F♯, with B in the bass.
- First inversion (B/D♯): D♯, F♯ and B, with D♯ in the bass.
- Second inversion (B/F♯): F♯, B and D♯, with F♯ in the bass.
Keys that use B major
B major appears in 7 major and minor keys.
| Key | Degree | Function |
|---|---|---|
| B major (5 sharps) | I | Tonic |
| F♯ major (6 sharps) | IV | Subdominant |
| E major (4 sharps) | V | Dominant |
| G♯ minor (5 sharps) | III | Mediant |
| D♯ minor (6 sharps) | VI | Submediant |
| C♯ minor (4 sharps) | VII | Subtonic |
| E minor (harmonic minor, 1 sharp) | V | Dominant |
Progressions with B major
- Pop progression in B major (I–V–vi–IV): B – F♯ – G♯m – E
- Pop progression starting on vi in B major (vi–IV–I–V): G♯m – E – B – F♯
- Three-chord progression in B major (I–IV–V): B – E – F♯
- Turnaround in B major (I–vi–ii–V): B – G♯m – C♯m – F♯
- Minor pop progression in D♯ minor (i–VI–III–VII): D♯m – B – F♯ – C♯
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the B major chord?
B, D♯ and F♯: root, major third and perfect fifth. Its formula is 1-3-5.
Which keys use B major?
Mainly as the I in B major and the IV in F♯ major. In total it appears in 7 major and minor keys.
What is the relative minor of B major?
G♯ minor. B major and G♯ minor are the tonic chords of two relative keys, which share the same key signature and the same scale notes.