B major (B)

A major chord: root, major third and fifth. A stable, bright sound.

There’s no open shape: it’s played as a barre chord, starting at the 2nd fret. It’s the home chord of the key of B major; you’ll also find it in F♯ major and E major.

Notes:: B, D♯, F♯.
Formula:: 1, 3, 5.
Difficulty:: Intermediate.
Strings played:: 5 (from the A string).

Chord diagram

e|--2--|
B|--4--|
G|--4--|
D|--4--|
A|--2--|
E|--x--|

Other positions

e|--7--|
B|--7--|
G|--8--|
D|--9--|
A|--9--|
E|--7--|

Capo tip: put the capo at the 2nd fret and play the A major shape: you hear B major, with no barre.The capo

Often played with

The chords in its key, the ones you hear most often around B major.

e|--0--|
B|--0--|
G|--1--|
D|--2--|
A|--2--|
E|--0--|

E majorIV

e|--2--|
B|--2--|
G|--3--|
D|--4--|
A|--4--|
E|--2--|

F♯ majorV

e|--4--|
B|--4--|
G|--4--|
D|--6--|
A|--6--|
E|--4--|

G♯ minorvi