Also written B, Bmaj or BM
B major contains B, D♯, and F♯. This chord uses a partial barre on the top two strings and a stretch to the 4th fret, making it a solid intermediate grip.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
B major is built from the formula 1, 3, 5. The major 3rd between B and D♯ gives the chord its bright quality, while the minor 3rd between D♯ and F♯ completes the triad. Compare it with B minor, which lowers the 3rd to D.
B major works in the I–V–vi–IV progression: B major–F♯ major–G♯ minor–E major. Use B major for bright pop or rock strumming.
The Bmaj/D♯ inversion puts D♯ in the bass and is the easiest grip. The Bmaj/F♯ inversion with F♯ in the bass offers a fuller sound. The 9th fret voicing has B in the bass and is the most compact.
B major is played at the 2nd fret as 4 3 2 2: barre your index finger across fret 2, ring finger on the G string at fret 4 and middle finger on the C string at fret 3.
Tip — The index finger must barre the E and A strings at the 2nd fret while the other fingers reach the 3rd and 4th frets.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 4 | 3 | B (1) |
| 3 (C) | 3 | 2 | D♯ (3) |
| 2 (E) | 2 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (5) |
| 1 (A) | 2 | 1 (barre) | B (1) |
B major is played at the 4th fret as 4 6 7 6: index finger on the G string at fret 4, middle finger on the C string at fret 6, pinky finger on the E string at fret 7 and ring finger on the A string at fret 6.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 4 | 1 | B (1) |
| 3 (C) | 6 | 2 | F♯ (5) |
| 2 (E) | 7 | 4 | B (1) |
| 1 (A) | 6 | 3 | D♯ (3) |
B major is played at the 6th fret as 8 6 7 6: pinky finger on the G string at fret 8, index finger on the C string at fret 6, ring finger on the E string at fret 7 and middle finger on the A string at fret 6.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 8 | 4 | D♯ (3) |
| 3 (C) | 6 | 1 | F♯ (5) |
| 2 (E) | 7 | 3 | B (1) |
| 1 (A) | 6 | 2 | D♯ (3) |
B major is played at the 9th fret as 11 11 11 9: middle finger on the G string at fret 11, ring finger on the C string at fret 11, pinky finger on the E string at fret 11 and index finger on the A string at fret 9.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 11 | 2 | F♯ (5) |
| 3 (C) | 11 | 3 | B (1) |
| 2 (E) | 11 | 4 | D♯ (3) |
| 1 (A) | 9 | 1 | F♯ (5) |
B major is played at the 9th fret as × 11 11 9: middle finger on the C string at fret 11, ring finger on the E string at fret 11 and index finger on the A string at fret 9. The G string stays muted.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (C) | 11 | 2 | B (1) |
| 2 (E) | 11 | 3 | D♯ (3) |
| 1 (A) | 9 | 1 | F♯ (5) |
B major is written as B, Bmaj, or BM.
B major has a major 3rd (D♯), while B minor has a minor 3rd (D). The 5th (F♯) is the same in both chords.
The lowest note in that voicing is D♯, which is the 3rd of the chord. This inversion is often used to create a smoother bass line.