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Chords in the key of B major

The notes of B major are B C# D# E F# G# A#. Each note makes one chord, so these are the seven chords that belong together. Its relative minor is G# minor, which uses exactly the same chords.

The seven chords in B major

NumberChordFeels likeWhat it does
I B Home The chord the key is named after. Songs usually start and end here, and it feels like coming home.
ii C#m Setup A soft minor chord that leads naturally into V.
iii D#m Soft A gentle minor chord that sounds a lot like I. Used less often.
IV E Lift Moves away from home without much tension. A warm, open sound.
V F# Tension Builds tension that wants to fall back to I. The strongest pull in the key.
vi G#m Relative minor The relative minor: the same notes, starting from here. Adds a sad or reflective mood.
vii° A#dim Tense An unstable chord that pulls toward I. Rare in folk, rock and country.

How to play them

B

NUT E A D G B e × 1 3 3 3
NUT E A D G B e × 1 3 3 3

The red NUT marks the start of the neck, by the tuning pegs; frets count away from it. The thickest string is the low E (the letters show each string). × = don't play it, ○ = play it open. Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little.

G D A E
G D A E

Mandolin, tuned G D A E (the letters under the strings). Each string is a pair played together. ○ = open string; the dots are where your fingers go.

C#m

4fr E A D G B e × 1 3 4 2
4fr E A D G B e × 1 3 4 2

The red NUT marks the start of the neck, by the tuning pegs; frets count away from it. The thickest string is the low E (the letters show each string). × = don't play it, ○ = play it open. Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little.

G D A E
G D A E

Mandolin, tuned G D A E (the letters under the strings). Each string is a pair played together. ○ = open string; the dots are where your fingers go.

D#m

6fr E A D G B e × 1 3 4 2
6fr E A D G B e × 1 3 4 2

The red NUT marks the start of the neck, by the tuning pegs; frets count away from it. The thickest string is the low E (the letters show each string). × = don't play it, ○ = play it open. Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little.

G D A E
G D A E

Mandolin, tuned G D A E (the letters under the strings). Each string is a pair played together. ○ = open string; the dots are where your fingers go.

E

NUT E A D G B e 2 3 1
NUT E A D G B e 2 3 1

The red NUT marks the start of the neck, by the tuning pegs; frets count away from it. The thickest string is the low E (the letters show each string). × = don't play it, ○ = play it open. Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little.

G D A E
G D A E

Mandolin, tuned G D A E (the letters under the strings). Each string is a pair played together. ○ = open string; the dots are where your fingers go.

F#

NUT E A D G B e 1 3 4 2
NUT E A D G B e 1 3 4 2

The red NUT marks the start of the neck, by the tuning pegs; frets count away from it. The thickest string is the low E (the letters show each string). × = don't play it, ○ = play it open. Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little.

G D A E
G D A E

Mandolin, tuned G D A E (the letters under the strings). Each string is a pair played together. ○ = open string; the dots are where your fingers go.

G#m

4fr E A D G B e 1 3 4
4fr E A D G B e 1 3 4

The red NUT marks the start of the neck, by the tuning pegs; frets count away from it. The thickest string is the low E (the letters show each string). × = don't play it, ○ = play it open. Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little.

G D A E
G D A E

Mandolin, tuned G D A E (the letters under the strings). Each string is a pair played together. ○ = open string; the dots are where your fingers go.

A#dim

NUT E A D G B e × 1 2 4 3 ×
NUT E A D G B e × 1 2 4 3 ×

The red NUT marks the start of the neck, by the tuning pegs; frets count away from it. The thickest string is the low E (the letters show each string). × = don't play it, ○ = play it open. Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little.

G D A E
G D A E

Mandolin, tuned G D A E (the letters under the strings). Each string is a pair played together. ○ = open string; the dots are where your fingers go.

Tap a chord to see it bigger.

Want to play B higher up the neck? See B in all five CAGED shapes.

Famous progressions in B

Each one is written as numbers first, then as the real chords in B major. Play each chord for one bar (four beats) unless you decide otherwise.

The three-chord song

I IV V

B E F#

The backbone of rock, country, folk and blues. Three chords are enough for hundreds of songs, so this is the first progression to learn.

Heard in: Twist and Shout, La Bamba, Wild Thing

The four-chord progression

I V vi IV

B F# G#m E

The most famous progression in pop. The same four chords have carried songs across every decade and style.

Heard in: Let It Be, No Woman, No Cry, Wagon Wheel, With or Without You

The four chords, starting from the minor

vi IV I V

G#m E B F#

The same four chords as above, started from vi. The song begins on the sad chord, so it feels moodier.

Heard in: Zombie, Despacito

The 50s progression

I vi IV V

B G#m E F#

The sound of doo-wop and early rock and roll. Sweet and a little nostalgic.

Heard in: Stand by Me, Earth Angel

The jazz turnaround

ii V I

C#m F# B

The building block of jazz: setup, tension, home. Once you can hear it, you will hear it in everything.

Heard in: Autumn Leaves (in its major sections)

Pachelbel's Canon

I V vi iii IV I IV V

B F# G#m D#m

E B E F#

Eight chords that glide down and back up. It has been borrowed by pop songs for centuries.

Heard in: Canon in D, Basket Case

The 12-bar blues

I7 I7 I7 I7 IV7 IV7 I7 I7 V7 IV7 I7 V7

B7 B7 B7 B7

E7 E7 B7 B7

F#7 E7 B7 F#7

Twelve bars, three chords, all played as sevenths. Each chord is one bar. The pattern behind most blues and early rock and roll.

Heard in: Rock Around the Clock, Johnny B. Goode, Hound Dog

Seventh chords used above

B7

NUT E A D G B e × 2 1 3 4
NUT E A D G B e × 2 1 3 4

The red NUT marks the start of the neck, by the tuning pegs; frets count away from it. The thickest string is the low E (the letters show each string). × = don't play it, ○ = play it open. Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little.

G D A E
G D A E

Mandolin, tuned G D A E (the letters under the strings). Each string is a pair played together. ○ = open string; the dots are where your fingers go.

E7

NUT E A D G B e 2 1
NUT E A D G B e 2 1

The red NUT marks the start of the neck, by the tuning pegs; frets count away from it. The thickest string is the low E (the letters show each string). × = don't play it, ○ = play it open. Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little.

G D A E
G D A E

Mandolin, tuned G D A E (the letters under the strings). Each string is a pair played together. ○ = open string; the dots are where your fingers go.

F#7

NUT E A D G B e 1 3 2
NUT E A D G B e 1 3 2

The red NUT marks the start of the neck, by the tuning pegs; frets count away from it. The thickest string is the low E (the letters show each string). × = don't play it, ○ = play it open. Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little.

G D A E
G D A E

Mandolin, tuned G D A E (the letters under the strings). Each string is a pair played together. ○ = open string; the dots are where your fingers go.

Songs in B major

Put these chords to work.

Other keys

C G D A E B F# Db Ab Eb Bb F | Am Em Bm F#m C#m G#m D#m Bbm Fm Cm Gm Dm

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