B Chords Directory — Piano Keys & Guitar Voicings

The three most essential chords built on B are B Major (B–D#–F#), B Minor (B–D–F#), and B Dominant 7th (B–D#–F#–A).

Together with B Major 7th (B–D#–F#–A#), these four chords provide the harmonic core for playing thousands of songs across pop, rock, folk, blues, and jazz.

The B Major chord contains the root (B), major third (D#), and perfect fifth (F#).

The B Minor chord lowers the third by a half-step: root (B), minor third (D), and perfect fifth (F#). That single semitone change transforms the emotional tone from bright and resolved to dark and melancholic.

B7 (dominant seventh) pairs a major triad with a minor 7th (B–D#–F#–A), creating bluesy harmonic tension.

Bmaj7 (major seventh) pairs a major triad with a major 7th (B–D#–F#–A#) for a dreamy, lush jazz feel. Bm7 (minor seventh) pairs a minor triad with a minor 7th (B–D–F#–A), giving a smooth, soulful sound.

In the key of B major, B acts as the tonic (I chord).

Common progressions include I–IV–V (B – E – F#), I–V–vi–IV (B – F# – G#m – E), and the jazz ii–V–I (C#m7 – F#7 – Bmaj7).

On piano, B chords are played by pressing the constituent notes simultaneously (B, D#, F# for major) with your right hand, or playing the root B in the left hand with chords in the right.

On guitar, B chords can be fretted using open positions (where applicable) or moveable barre chord shapes rooted on either the 6th string or 5th string.

Suspended chords replace the third with a major second (Bsus2: B–C#–F#) or a perfect fourth (Bsus4: B–E–F#).

Because they lack a third, they are neither major nor minor, creating an open, unresolved harmonic suspension that begs to resolve back to B major.

Yes! Clicking on any B chord card below opens an interactive page featuring playable piano keyboards, guitar fretboard fingerings (including open and barre shapes), interval analysis, audio playback, and printable PDF chord sheets.