transpose.siteChords in the key of B (B major)
Songs in B use the seven notes of the B major scale: B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A♯. The key signature has 5 (C♯ D♯ F♯ G♯ A♯). The seven chords built on these notes are the ones you will meet most in B.
Diatonic chords in B
| Degree | I | ii | iii | IV | V | vi | vii° |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triad | B | C♯m | D♯m | E | F♯ | G♯m | A♯dim |
| Seventh | Bmaj7 | C♯m7 | D♯m7 | Emaj7 | F♯7 | G♯m7 | A♯m7(♭5) |
| Role | tonic (home) | subdominant side | tonic substitute | subdominant | dominant (tension) | tonic substitute, relative minor | dominant substitute |
I
ii
iii
IV
V
vi
Common progressions in B
- B – F♯ – G♯m – E (I – V – vi – IV, the most common pop progression)
- B – G♯m – E – F♯ (I – vi – IV – V, the '50s progression, ballads)
- G♯m – E – B – F♯ (vi – IV – I – V, the same four chords with a minor feel)
- C♯m – F♯ – B (ii – V – I, the classic jazz and ballad cadence)
- B – E – F♯ (I – IV – V, rock and blues basics)
Playing in B with a capo
If the barre chords are hard, put on a capo and use the shapes of an easier key.
- Capo on fret 2 + play A shapes (chords in A)
- Capo on fret 4 + play G shapes (chords in G)
- Capo on fret 7 + play E shapes (chords in E)
To move a whole PDF score to an easier key, open it in the free PDF transposer: chords and TAB change together.
Relative minor: G♯ minor
G♯ minor (G♯m) uses the same seven notes as B major. If a song starts and ends on G♯m, it is in G♯ minor.
Chords in G♯ minor: i G♯m · ii° A♯dim · III B · iv C♯m · v D♯m · VI E · VII F♯ (D♯7 is common in place of v)
- G♯m – E – B – F♯ (i – VI – III – VII, minor-key rock and ballads)
- G♯m – C♯m – D♯m – G♯m (i – iv – v – i, minor-key basics (V7 often replaces v))
- G♯m – F♯ – E – F♯ (i – VII – VI – VII, a rock riff progression)