B Major Guitar Chord (B)
B is the V chord of E, which makes it unavoidable. Every blues in E ends up here. x24442, the A shape barred at the second fret, and most players' first movable barre after F.
B shows up at E's table.
B chord shapes in standard tuning
How to play it
Lay your index finger flat across the top 5 strings (from the A (5th) string up) at fret 2. That barre is the backbone of this B shape. Then add your middle finger on the D (4th) string at fret 4, your ring finger on the G (3rd) string at fret 4, and your pinky finger on the B (2nd) string at fret 4. Keep the low E (6th) string out of the strum. Start your downstroke from the A (5th) string.
Notes in this chord
| Symbol | Interval | Note |
|---|---|---|
| R | root | B |
| 3 | major third | D♯ |
| 5 | perfect fifth | F♯ |
Keep exploring
Other tunings
Open the interactive chord charts to see B in open G, drop D, DADGAD, and more tunings.
More B chords
Nearby major chords
B FAQ
What notes are in B?
B contains B, D♯, and F♯. That's the root (B), the major third, and the perfect fifth.
Is B a barre chord?
The most common B shape (x-2-4-4-4-2) is a barre chord. Your index finger bars fret 2 across 5 strings. There is no standard open-position shape for this chord in standard tuning, but the diagrams above include every practical alternative up the neck.
What is the easiest way to play B on guitar?
Start with the barre · 2fr shape x-2-4-4-4-2. Lay your index finger flat across the top 5 strings (from the A (5th) string up) at fret 2. That barre is the backbone of this B shape. Then add your middle finger on the D (4th) string at fret 4, your ring finger on the G (3rd) string at fret 4, and your pinky finger on the B (2nd) string at fret 4. Keep the low E (6th) string out of the strum. Start your downstroke from the A (5th) string.