Chords › B major
B Major Chord on Guitar
- B
- B · D♯ · F♯
- Barre at fret 2
A-shape barre
Easy, four strings. Play only the top four strings. It has all three notes of the chord and no full barre.
B major, written B, is a major chord: the root, the major third and the fifth. B has no open shape, so it is usually played as an A-shape barre chord at the 2nd fret, and there is an easier four-string version for beginners.
How to play B, finger by finger
- Lay your index finger flat across strings 5 to 1 at the 2nd fret.
- Put your middle finger on string 4 at the 4th fret.
- Put your ring finger on string 3 at the 4th fret.
- Put your pinky finger on string 2 at the 4th fret.
- Strum from string 5 down to string 1, and don't play string 6.
Easy B for beginners
Play only the top four strings. It has all three notes of the chord and no full barre.
More ways to play B
Notes in B major
| Note | Interval | Role |
|---|---|---|
| B | 1 | root |
| D♯ | 3 | major third |
| F♯ | 5 | fifth |
Formula: 1 – 3 – 5
Questions about B
What notes are in B?
B, D♯ and F♯. Those are the 1, 3, 5 of the chord, counted from B.
What is the easiest way to play B?
Play the four-string version on the top strings, frets 4, 4, 4, 2 from the 4th string to the 1st. Move to the full barre at the 2nd fret when your index finger is ready.
Related chords
Often played with B
Other major chords