My Chord Finder

chords in the key of b

chords in the key of b are I B (x 2 4 4 4 2), ii C#m (x 4 6 6 5 4), iii D#m (x 6 8 8 7 6), IV E (0 2 2 1 0 0), V F# (2 4 4 3 2 2), vi G#m (4 6 6 4 4 4) and vii° A#dim (x 1 2 3 2 0).

One fingering each

B major charts put string 6, low E, on the left and string 1, high E, on the right. Dot numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 pinky. × is muted, ○ is open, and the letters under the strings are the notes you hear.

B major has 5 barre shapes out of 7: B, C#m, D#m, F# and G#m. The other 2 each include an open string.

B major, one shape each, low E to high E
DegreeChordQualityNotesFretsBarre
IBMajorB D# F#x 2 4 4 4 2barre
iiC#mMinorC# E G#x 4 6 6 5 4barre
iiiD#mMinorD# F# A#x 6 8 8 7 6barre
IVEMajorE G# B0 2 2 1 0 0no barre
VF#MajorF# A# C#2 4 4 3 2 2barre
viG#mMinorG# B D#4 6 6 4 4 4barre
vii°A#dimDiminishedA# C# Ex 1 2 3 2 0no barre

I · Major

B

fr2345×1B2F#3B4D#1F#

Frets from low E to high E: x 2 4 4 4 2.

Sounding notes: B2 (1), F#3 (5), B3 (1), D#4 (3) and F#4 (5).

  • Sixth string, low E: muted.
  • Fifth string, A: finger 1, fret 2, sounds B.
  • Fourth string, D: finger 2, fret 4, sounds F#.
  • Third string, G: finger 3, fret 4, sounds B.
  • Second string, B: finger 4, fret 4, sounds D#.
  • First string, high E: finger 1, fret 2, sounds F#.

B is a barre: finger 1 at fret 2.

Open B in the chord finder

ii · Minor

C#m

fr4567×1C#3G#4C#2E1G#

Frets from low E to high E: x 4 6 6 5 4.

Sounding notes: C#3 (1), G#3 (5), C#4 (1), E4 (b3) and G#4 (5).

  • Sixth string, low E: muted.
  • Fifth string, A: finger 1, fret 4, sounds C#.
  • Fourth string, D: finger 3, fret 6, sounds G#.
  • Third string, G: finger 4, fret 6, sounds C#.
  • Second string, B: finger 2, fret 5, sounds E.
  • First string, high E: finger 1, fret 4, sounds G#.

C#m is a barre: finger 1 at fret 4.

Open C#m in the chord finder

iii · Minor

D#m

fr6789×1D#3A#4D#2F#1A#

Frets from low E to high E: x 6 8 8 7 6.

Sounding notes: D#3 (1), A#3 (5), D#4 (1), F#4 (b3) and A#4 (5).

  • Sixth string, low E: muted.
  • Fifth string, A: finger 1, fret 6, sounds D#.
  • Fourth string, D: finger 3, fret 8, sounds A#.
  • Third string, G: finger 4, fret 8, sounds D#.
  • Second string, B: finger 2, fret 7, sounds F#.
  • First string, high E: finger 1, fret 6, sounds A#.

D#m is a barre: finger 1 at fret 6.

Open D#m in the chord finder

IV · Major

E

○E2B3E1G#○B○E

Frets from low E to high E: 0 2 2 1 0 0.

Sounding notes: E2 (1), B2 (5), E3 (1), G#3 (3), B3 (5) and E4 (1).

  • Sixth string, low E: open, sounds E.
  • Fifth string, A: finger 2, fret 2, sounds B.
  • Fourth string, D: finger 3, fret 2, sounds E.
  • Third string, G: finger 1, fret 1, sounds G#.
  • Second string, B: open, sounds B.
  • First string, high E: open, sounds E.

E is not a barre.

Open E in the chord finder

V · Major

F#

fr23451F#3C#4F#2A#1C#1F#

Frets from low E to high E: 2 4 4 3 2 2.

Sounding notes: F#2 (1), C#3 (5), F#3 (1), A#3 (3), C#4 (5) and F#4 (1).

  • Sixth string, low E: finger 1, fret 2, sounds F#.
  • Fifth string, A: finger 3, fret 4, sounds C#.
  • Fourth string, D: finger 4, fret 4, sounds F#.
  • Third string, G: finger 2, fret 3, sounds A#.
  • Second string, B: finger 1, fret 2, sounds C#.
  • First string, high E: finger 1, fret 2, sounds F#.

F# is a barre: finger 1 at fret 2.

Open F# in the chord finder

vi · Minor

G#m

fr45671G#3D#4G#1B1D#1G#

Frets from low E to high E: 4 6 6 4 4 4.

Sounding notes: G#2 (1), D#3 (5), G#3 (1), B3 (b3), D#4 (5) and G#4 (1).

  • Sixth string, low E: finger 1, fret 4, sounds G#.
  • Fifth string, A: finger 3, fret 6, sounds D#.
  • Fourth string, D: finger 4, fret 6, sounds G#.
  • Third string, G: finger 1, fret 4, sounds B.
  • Second string, B: finger 1, fret 4, sounds D#.
  • First string, high E: finger 1, fret 4, sounds G#.

G#m is a barre: finger 1 at fret 4.

Open G#m in the chord finder

vii° · Diminished

A#dim

×1A#2E4A#3C#○E

Frets from low E to high E: x 1 2 3 2 0.

Sounding notes: A#2 (1), E3 (b5), A#3 (1), C#4 (b3) and E4 (b5).

  • Sixth string, low E: muted.
  • Fifth string, A: finger 1, fret 1, sounds A#.
  • Fourth string, D: finger 2, fret 2, sounds E.
  • Third string, G: finger 4, fret 3, sounds A#.
  • Second string, B: finger 3, fret 2, sounds C#.
  • First string, high E: open, sounds E.

A#dim is not a barre.

Open A#dim in the chord finder

Scale notes

B major scale notes: B, C#, D#, E, F#, G# and A#.

Half steps in B major: D# to E, and A# to B. Every other step is a whole step.

Open strings outside B major: A, D and G. The other open strings (low E and B) are in the scale.

The B major scale diagram marks only scale notes, so every open string named above as outside B major is left unmarked.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,01234EADGBE
Open strings through fret 4. Gold dots are notes of B major.

Common progressions

I-V-vi-IV in B major is B, F#, G#m and E.

I-vi-IV-V in B major is B, G#m, E and F#.

NumeralsChordsPlay
I-V-vi-IVB, F#, G#m and EHear it
I-vi-IV-VB, G#m, E and F#Hear it

On piano

The I chord on piano is B3, D#4 and F#4, MIDI 59, 63 and 66. The same pitch classes are B.

CDEFGAB
One octave from C. Gold keys are the B pitch classes, not a specific octave.

How this key sits on guitar

E is the open major chord in this set. The A#dim chart leaves the first string open and is not a barre.

Capo

A capo at fret 2 (two frets) plus A major shapes sounds B major.

A capo at fret 4 (four frets) plus G major shapes sounds B major.

The fret map is on the capo transpose chart.

Questions

What if some shapes are uncomfortable?

The chart section states which shapes need a bar. The capo section is the easier route when those shapes are uncomfortable.

Other keys