B Guitar Chord

How to play B: a major built on B, with 6 ways to play it, the notes, the keys it belongs to, and songs that use it.

Chord Diagrams

X
A common voicing
XX
Voicing 2
7
Voicing 3
7XX
Voicing 4
11X
Voicing 5
9XX
Voicing 6

The first diagram is a common voicing: played at the first few frets. An X above a string means don't play it; an O means play it open.

How to play B

Frets from the low E string to the high E string: x 2 4 4 4 2 (x = not played).

  1. Lay your index finger across the 2nd fret from the A string to the high E string (a barre).
  2. Add the D, G and B strings at the 4th fret.
  3. Strum from the A string down; the low E string stays silent.

Notes & Intervals in B

NoteBD#F#
IntervalR35

B is a major with B as its root. The full theoretical spelling is B, D#, F#. This voicing sounds every chord tone.

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Keys That Use B

B is a diatonic chord (built from the key's own notes) in 3 major keys and 4 minor keys. The roman numeral is the chord's place in that key; tap a key for all of its chords.

Songs That Use B

Free chord sheets on Guitar Scribble with B in them. Each opens with the chords over the lyrics and plays in any key.

Use This Chord

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Questions About B

What notes are in the B chord?

B is spelled B, D#, F#: the root, 3rd, 5th. The common guitar voicing sounds every one of them.

How do you play B on guitar?

Frets from the low E string to the high E string: x 2 4 4 4 2 (x means the string is not played). Lay your index finger across the 2nd fret from the A string to the high E string (a barre). Add the D, G and B strings at the 4th fret. Strum from the A string down; the low E string stays silent.

What key is the B chord in?

B belongs to 7 keys: B major (the I chord), F# major (the IV chord), E major (the V chord), D# minor (the VI), G# minor (the III), C# minor (the VII) and E minor (the V, from the harmonic minor).

Related Chords

Other major chords

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