Piano chords · Major chord
B piano chord (B major)
B is a major chord with 3 notes. It sounds bright and settled. Here's how to find it, play it and hear it.
B – D♯ – F♯ · tap any key to hear it
The notes of B
B is built from 3 notes (1 – 3 – 5):
- B, the root
- D♯, the major third
- F♯, the fifth
D♯ and F♯ are black keys, so keep your hand slightly further in, towards the fallboard, to reach them without stretching.
Fingering
- Right hand: 1 on B, 3 on D♯, 5 on F♯.
- Left hand: 5 on B, 3 on D♯, 1 on F♯.
Press every key at exactly the same moment, with the same weight. If one note sounds louder or a fraction late, the chord sounds uneven: play it slowly and listen for one sound.
Inversions
An inversion is the same notes in a different order, with a different note at the bottom. Inversions let you move between chords without jumping around the keyboard.
| Position | Notes, bottom to top |
|---|---|
| Root position | B – D♯ – F♯ |
| 1st inversion | D♯ – F♯ – B |
| 2nd inversion | F♯ – B – D♯ |
Where B belongs
B is the I chord in B major, the IV chord in F♯ major and the V chord in E major. Its relative minor is G♯m, which shares two of its notes.
Bm is the same chord with the middle note a half step lower (D♯ becomes D), which turns it from bright to dark.
Hear it in a progression
B – F♯ – G♯m – E: I – V – vi – IV, the progression behind countless pop songs.
Playing it, but it doesn't sound right? Ivory listens to you play and tells you what's off: a note that's missing, a hand that lands late, a chord that's uneven. Then it shows you how it should go.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the B chord?
B (B major) is made of B, D♯ and F♯: the root, major third and fifth.
How do you play B on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on B, 3 on D♯, 5 on F♯, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on B, 3 on D♯, 1 on F♯.
What's the difference between B and Bm?
Bm is the same chord with the middle note a half step lower (D♯ becomes D), which turns it from bright to dark.