Notes and intervals of B major
- B1 · root
- D♯3 · major third
- F♯5 · perfect fifth
It's the basic chord of almost any song: it works as a point of arrival (the tonic) and as a passing chord.
Progressions with B
The basic progression: I – IV – V – I
With these three chords you can play along to hundreds of songs in B major.
The pop progression: I – V – vi – IV
It's the backbone of a huge number of ballads, pop songs and reggaeton hits.
Which keys contain B major?
B belongs to 6 keys: in each one it plays a different role depending on the degree (the Roman numeral).
| Key | Degree |
|---|---|
| E major | V |
| F♯ major | IV |
| B major | I |
| C♯ natural minor | VII |
| D♯ natural minor | VI |
| G♯ natural minor | III |
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the B major chord?
B major (B) has 3 notes: B (root), D♯ (major third), F♯ (perfect fifth).
How do you play B major on guitar?
The most common shape uses a barre at fret 2: x 2 4 4 4 2 (from the 6th to the 1st string). Barre fret 2 with your index finger, from the 5th to the 1st string. Finger 3 (ring) on fret 4 of the 4th string (D). Finger 3 (ring) on fret 4 of the 3rd string (G). Finger 3 (ring) on fret 4 of the 2nd string (B). Do not play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.
What is the difference between B major and B minor?
Only the third changes: B major uses D♯ and B minor uses D. That note is what makes the chord sound bright (major) or darker (minor).
How do you write B major as a chord symbol?
It is written B; you may also see BM or Bmaj. Letter-name chord notation uses C, D, E, F, G, A and B for the notes.