B chord
The bright, resolved, "happy" sound. The most common chord in Western music.
B major · 2 voicings
Notes in B
How to Play B
Barre, E shape
7 9 9 8 7 7
Barre, A shape
x 2 4 4 4 2
Numbers under each diagram are frets, string 6 (thickest) to string 1. x means don't play that string; 0 means play it open.
Where B Is Used
B occurs naturally in 3 major keys. Its roman numeral tells you the job it does in each — the same chord feels like home in one key and like tension in another.
| Key | Degree | Role |
|---|---|---|
| E major | V | Dominant — pulls back to the tonic |
| F♯ major | IV | Subdominant — moves away from home |
| B major | I | Tonic — the home chord |
Progressions featuring B
- ii – V – I — the central cadence in jazz
- V – I — the strongest resolution in tonal music
- I – IV – V — the backbone of blues and early rock
Playing tips for B
Bhas no standard open-position shape, so every voicing here is movable — the same finger pattern works at any fret, and sliding it changes the chord's root. Barre with the flat edge of your index finger, slightly rolled toward the headstock, rather than the soft centre of the pad.
If a string buzzes or sounds dead, the usual causes are a fingertip leaning against it, not quite enough pressure, or a finger too far behind the fret. Play each string one at a time to find which one is failing before adjusting the whole shape — and make sure your guitar is in tune first, since an out-of-tune string will make a correct shape sound wrong. Use our free online tuner to check.
Related Chords
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