How to play the B Major chord on guitar
B major is a full barre with three fingers stacked behind it, and it is physically demanding. Many players substitute B7 in the same musical spot, which is far easier and sounds appropriate in blues contexts. Treat this one as a strength goal rather than an early requirement.
B Major is a major triad — root, major third and fifth: B, D#, F#. The major third is what makes it sound bright rather than sad.
Finger it one string at a time
- low E string: don't play it.
- A string: fret 2 with your index finger.
- D string: fret 4 with your middle finger.
- G string: fret 4 with your ring finger.
- B string: fret 4 with your pinky.
- high E string: fret 2 with your index finger.
A tough barre chord. You can use your ring finger or pinky to barre the D, G, and B strings if fitting three fingers is too cramped.
What makes this shape awkward
- Your index finger has to flatten across 2 strings at fret 2. Roll it slightly onto its side: the soft crease in the middle of the pad is where strings sink in and buzz.
- The shape spans 3 frets, so your hand has to stretch rather than sit in one position. Bring your thumb down behind the neck to open the gap between your fingers.
- 1 string stays silent, so your strumming hand has to start on the right string. Aim the pick rather than sweeping all six.
Keys it belongs to
B is diatonic to these keys, which is why it turns up in songs written in them — the bracket is the degree it plays there:
If this one is still too hard
B Major is an intermediate shape. These beginner chords use a related root or quality and are worth getting clean first:
Hear it and check yourself
Reading a diagram only gets you so far — the part that decides whether B sounds right is whether every string rings cleanly. RiffRoute plays the chord back, listens while you strum it, and tells you which string is buzzing.