I-IV-V (the Three Chord Trick)
I · IV · V
The most fundamental progression in Western music.
Key of B
The Key of B Major
The chords in the key of B major are B, C♯m, D♯m, E, F♯, G♯m and A♯dim.
Five sharps: barres on guitar, comfort on piano.
Below: all seven diatonic chords with guitar shapes and audio, the scale, the key signature (F♯ · C♯ · G♯ · D♯ · A♯), 8 progressions already transposed into this key, and the keys next door.
Diatonic chords
The 7 chords in the key of B major
Each degree of the B major scale carries one chord. Roman numerals show the degree; the function column tells you what the chord does. Every name links to its full chord page — press play to hear it on guitar.
| Degree | Function | Chord | Guitar shape | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | TonicTonicHome — rests | BB · D♯ · F♯ | ||
| ii | SubdominantSupertonicDeparts — sets up the V | C♯mC♯ · E · G♯ | ||
| iii | TonicMediantHome — rests | D♯mE♭ · G♭ · B♭spelled D♯m in B major · the chord page is E♭ Minor | ||
| IV | SubdominantSubdominantDeparts — sets up the V | EE · G♯ · B | ||
| V | DominantDominantPulls back to I | F♯F♯ · A♯ · C♯ | ||
| vi | TonicSubmediantHome — rests | G♯mG♯ · B · D♯ | ||
| vii° | DominantLeading tonePulls back to I | A♯dimB♭ · D♭ · F♭spelled A♯dim in B major · the chord page is B♭ Diminished |
Want the same chords on another instrument? Every chord page carries piano, ukulele, bass, mandolin and banjo shapes — start with piano.
Character
Why songs live in B major
B major has nothing open to lean on for a guitarist — B, E and F# are all barre shapes — so most players reach it with a capo instead, using A shapes at the second fret or G shapes at the fourth. On piano the five sharps actually help: the long fingers fall naturally on the black keys, which is why the key reads as awkward and plays as easy.
Scale
The B major scale
Seven notes, in order from the tonic. Tap any note to hear it, or play the whole scale ascending.
Fretboard patterns and full scale reference: B Major (Ionian).
Key signature
The B major key signature
F♯ · C♯ · G♯ · D♯ · A♯
B major is written with 5 sharps. Every F, C, G, D and A in the music is played sharp unless an accidental says otherwise. Its relative minor, G♯ minor, shares this signature exactly.
Progressions
Chord progressions in B major
The most-used progressions, already transposed into B major. Every chord links to its own page; the progression name opens the full breakdown.
I-V-vi-IV (the Pop Punk Progression)
I · V · vi · IV
The 4-chord pop progression that powers thousands of hits.
vi-IV-I-V (Sensitive Female)
vi · IV · I · V
The minor-flavored sibling of I-V-vi-IV.
I-vi-IV-V (the Doo-Wop)
I · vi · IV · V
The 1950s ballad backbone.
I-IV-I-V
I · IV · I · V
Classic 4-bar phrase with a leading-tone pull on bar 4.
I-♭VII-IV (Mixolydian Rock)
I · ♭VII · IV
Mixolydian flavor; classic rock pull.
12-Bar Blues
I · I · I · I · IV · IV · I · I · V · IV · I · V
The defining blues form. 4 bars I, 2 bars IV, 2 bars I, 1 bar V, 1 bar IV, 1 bar I, 1 bar V (turnaround).
8-Bar Blues
I · V · IV · IV · I · V · I · V
Compressed blues form.
FAQ
Questions about the key of B major
- What chords are in the key of B major?
- The key of B major contains seven diatonic chords: B (I), C#m (ii), D#m (iii), E (IV), F# (V), G#m (vi), A#dim (vii°). Most songs in B major lean on B, E and F# — the tonic, subdominant and dominant.
- What is the relative minor of B major?
- G# minor is the relative minor of B major. Both keys share the same key signature (5 sharps) and exactly the same seven notes — G# minor simply treats G# as home instead of B, which is why you can borrow chords freely between them.
- What are the easiest chords in B major to play on guitar?
- E is the one open shape in B major — no barre required. The rest of the diatonic chords need a barre or a movable grip, so many players capo instead and use familiar open shapes from an easier key.
Learn the theory
Read up on B major
This page is the reference. These are the guides that explain how a key works in the first place — read one and the table above stops needing to be looked up.