Chords in the key of B major
The key of B major has five sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯). Its seven chords are B, C♯m, D♯m, E, F♯, G♯m and A♯dim. Tap any of them, or play them in order.
Tap a numeral to hear one chord; tap a shape to open it.
The chords that do most of the work
The primary chords of B major are B (I), E (IV) and F♯ (V); between them they hold every note of the scale. G♯m (vi) is the most-used minor chord, and C♯m (ii) the most common way to set up F♯.
Key signature
B major has five sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯), written at the start of every line so you don't have to mark them on each note. Sharp keys add one sharp per step clockwise around the circle of fifths: B major sits between E major and F♯ major.
The notes of the key are the B major scale: B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A♯. Relative minor: G♯ minor (same notes). Parallel minor: B minor (same starting note).
Progressions in B major
Every progression below is spelled out in B major. The player starts with the pop progression.
In B major, 4 beats per chord. Open in the progression builder
- IB
- VF♯
- viG♯m
- IVE
| Progression | In B major | |
|---|---|---|
| I–V–vi–IV the pop progression | B – F♯ – G♯m – E | |
| I–IV–V the three-chord progression | B – E – F♯ – B | |
| I–vi–IV–V the 50s progression | B – G♯m – E – F♯ | |
| ii–V–I the jazz cadence | C♯m7 – F♯7 – Bmaj7 – Bmaj7 | |
| vi–IV–I–V the minor-feel pop loop | G♯m – E – B – F♯ | |
| I–IV–vi–V the lift | B – E – G♯m – F♯ | |
| I–vi–ii–V the turnaround | B – G♯m – C♯m – F♯ | |
| I–iii–IV–V the stepwise climb | B – D♯m – E – F♯ | |
| I–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–V the Canon progression | B – F♯ – G♯m – D♯m – E – B – E – F♯ | |
| I7–IV7–V7 (12 bars) the 12-bar blues | B7 – B7 – B7 – B7 – E7 – E7 – B7 – B7 – F♯7 – E7 – B7 – F♯7 |
Making B major chords pull harder
These chords borrow one note from outside the key to set up the next chord, the way V7 sets up I.
- V7 of ii
- V7 of iii
- V7 of IV
- V7 of V
- V7 of vi
Mixing major and minor
Major-key songs often darken for a moment by taking chords from B minor: Em (iv), G (♭VI), A (♭VII) and D (♭III). The minor iv (Em) is the classic bittersweet move before returning to B.
Seventh chords in B major
Add the next note of the scale on top of each chord and you get the key's seventh chords: Bmaj7, C♯m7, D♯m7, Emaj7, F♯7, G♯m7 and A♯m7♭5. F♯7 is the only dominant seventh, which is why it pulls so strongly to B.
Playing in B major on guitar
B major is awkward in open position, so most guitarists use a capo: capo 2nd fret with A major shapes, capo 4th fret with G major shapes or capo 7th fret with E major shapes. Barre chords work too.
Transpose a chord chart · How a capo works
Other keys
Key of B major: questions
What chords are in the key of B major?
B, C♯m, D♯m, E, F♯, G♯m and A♯dim. As numerals: I = B, ii = C♯m, iii = D♯m, IV = E, V = F♯, vi = G♯m, vii° = A♯dim.
How many sharps or flats are in B major?
Five sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯).
What is the relative minor of B major?
G♯ minor. It uses the same key signature; the difference is which chord feels like home.
What are the I, IV and V chords in B major?
B (I), E (IV) and F♯ (V). With those three you can accompany most folk and blues tunes in the key.
How do I play in B major on guitar with a capo?
Capo 2nd fret, then play A major shapes (A, E, F♯m, D); they sound as B, F♯, G♯m, E.
Chord spellings follow the key signature of B major; all of them are checked automatically. Updated September 2026.