B major chord
B major chord for guitar with diagrams, fingerings and notes.
All chords More B chordsAlternative shapes
B (capo 2)
B
Description and theory
B major is usually played as an open chord, but it's common to play it as a barre chord as well.
Try it in a chord progression
B - F# - E - B
Chords that sound good together with B major
The primary chords to combine with B in chord progressions are: C#m, D#m, E, F#, G#m.
Follow-up chords
Chords that are likely to follow B major in progressions:
› A
› E
› F#
› D#7
Comments
B (XX4442) is more correctly named B/F# since the bass note is F#. This is nevertheless a good choice if you want to play B major in a basic form. The shape (XXX442) is theoretically correct, but includes only three strings which not may produce the wanted sound.
The second diagram show the chord played with a capo on 2nd fret.
Go to Lesson for this chord.
Finger position (B chord)
Index (1st) finger on 1st string, 2nd fret.
Middle (2nd) finger on 4th string, 4th fret.
Ring (3rd) finger on 3rd string, 4th fret.
Little (4th) finger on 2nd string, 4th fret.
Theory of B chord
The notes that the B chord consists of are B, D#, F#. The main presented version (XX4442) includes a root, a third and a doubled fifth.
To get B7 add A.
To get Bmaj7 add A#.
To get B6 add G#.
Alternatives with capo
A shape with a capo on 2nd fret (see picture).
G shape with a capo on 4th fret.
E shape with a capo on 7th fret.
Inversions
1st inversion: B/D# (means that D# is the bass note).
2nd inversion: B/F# (means that F# is the bass note).
Diagrams of these inversions
Assorted slash chords
Versions with alternate bass notes in short notation:
B/C#: X44444
B/E: 024442
B/A#: X1444X
Alternative chord names
B/C# is theoretically identical with C#9sus4.
B/E is theoretically identical with Badd11/E.
B/A# is theoretically identical with Bmaj7/A#.
B(no3) is theoretically identical with B5.
Written in tab format
- 2 -
- 4 -
- 4 -
- 4 -
- - -
- - -
See The Chord Reference ebook (over 800 chord charts), for a PDF.