Chords in the Key of B (5 sharps)
B is five sharps and no open I chord, so guitar songs in B usually arrive by capo or by accident. Its chords lean on the E-family barres, B, E, F♯.
The seven chords
| Degree | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|
| I | B | major |
| ii | C♯m | minor |
| iii | D♯m | minor |
| IV | E | major |
| V | F♯ | major |
| vi | G♯m | minor |
| vii° | A♯ dim | diminished |
B, E, and F♯ are the majors, C♯m, D♯m, and G♯m the minors, and A♯ diminished gets skipped by most guitar arrangements. Plenty of songs in B never leave B, E, F♯, and G♯m.
Common progressions
B, E, F♯. The I, IV, V, and the whole three-chord songbook with it.
B, F♯, G♯m, E. The four-chord pop axis. Several decades of hits use exactly this.
Scales to solo with
B major pentatonic is the lead scale for the major-key sound. G♯ minor pentatonic is the same five notes from the relative minor side.
Keep exploring
Relative minor
Parallel minor
Neighbor keys, one accidental away
Key of B FAQ
What chords are in the key of B?
B, C♯m, D♯m, E, F♯, G♯m, and A♯ diminished. The I, IV, and V are B, E, and F♯, and the relative minor is G♯m.
What is the relative minor of B major?
G♯ minor. Same key signature, same seven chords, with G♯m treated as home.
How many sharps or flats does the key of B have?
5 sharps, F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, and A♯.