B major
Five sharps, F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯ A♯. Seven notes: B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A♯. Try the key’s seven chords in different places on the neck. Press a shape to hear it and see its notes.
Across one chord in different positions. Down the chords in one position. | ||||
| IMainBB · D♯ · F♯ | ||||
| iiC♯mC♯ · E · G♯ | ||||
| iiiD♯mD♯ · F♯ · A♯ | ||||
| IVMainEE · G♯ · B | ||||
| VMainF♯F♯ · A♯ · C♯ | ||||
| viMainG♯mG♯ · B · D♯ | ||||
| vii°A♯°A♯ · C♯ · E |
Sounds good
Three patterns to try
Walk up to E. Strum B, pick C♯ and D♯ on the way up, land on E. Listen to how the bass connects the chords.
Triads on the top three strings. Three notes, three places, all B. Try them when a full six-string chord feels too busy.
- LowFrets 2–4
- MiddleFrets 7–8
- HighFrets 11–12
Same chords, higher. The four main chords in frets 1 to 4, then again in frets 6 to 9. Listen to how the higher voicings change the sound.
Exercises in B major
Four drills, with a click
Play along with the metronome. The neck above highlights each step.
- Four chords in one positionB – E – F♯ – G♯m without leaving frets 3 to 7.70 bpmLevel 1
- Climb with one chordB in all four places, low to high. Hear it brighten.60 bpmLevel 1
- Walk up to EStrum B, then walk the bass C♯ – D♯ into E.90 bpmLevel 2
- Scale, then chordsPlay the scale in frets 6 to 9, then the four chords there.70 bpmLevel 2
Why five sharps
E major with A raised
- B
- C♯
- D♯
- E
- F♯
- G♯
- A♯
- B
- C♯
- D♯
- E
- F♯
- G♯
- A
B major is E major with A raised to A♯.