B, major chord
B, D♯ and F♯
- Root
- B
- Major third
- D♯
- Perfect fifth
- F♯
Formula
1 3 5 (4, 7 half steps above B)
Fingering in root position
| Notes | B | D♯ | F♯ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 1 |
B major inversions
B major has 2 inversions. Each one keeps the same notes and puts a different one at the bottom, so your hand can stay close to the chord before or after it.
B
Root position
| Notes | B | D♯ | F♯ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 1 |
B/D♯
First inversion
| Notes | D♯ | F♯ | B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 1 |
B/F♯
Second inversion
| Notes | F♯ | B | D♯ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 2 | 1 |
Keys with B major
Roman numerals give a chord's place in a key: capitals for major chords, small letters for minor, ° for diminished. B major appears as:
- I in B major
- IV in F♯ major
- V in E major
- VI in D♯ minor
- V in E minor
- III in G♯ minor
- VII in C♯ minor
How B major is built
B is the root, D♯ the major third and F♯ the perfect fifth.
A major chord is a root, the major third 4 half steps above it and the perfect fifth 7 half steps above it. Lower the middle note by one key and B major becomes B minor.
Every chord takes every other letter of the alphabet, so the letters of B major are B, D, F. That is why it is spelled B, D♯ and F♯.
Find B major yourself
Without looking at the diagrams, find the chord on the keyboard, then each inversion. Saying the notes out loud as you tap them helps them stick.
Step 1 of 3
Tap the notes of B major, in any octave and any order.
Practice B major in real music
MasterPiano gives you new music to read at your level and listens as you play, through a MIDI keyboard or your device's microphone, marking each note right or wrong.
Start freeQuestions
What notes are in the B major chord?
B major (B) has three notes: B, D♯ and F♯. B is the root, D♯ the major third and F♯ the perfect fifth.
What fingers do you use for B major on piano?
In root position, play B, D♯ and F♯ with right hand fingers 1, 3 and 5 (thumb, middle finger and little finger) and left hand fingers 5, 3 and 1. The fingers change a little in each inversion; every inversion on this page shows its own.
What are the inversions of B major?
B major has 2 inversions, one for each note other than the root at the bottom. First inversion (B/D♯): D♯, F♯ and B. Second inversion (B/F♯): F♯, B and D♯.
What key is B major in?
B major is I in B major, its home key. It also appears as IV in F♯ major, V in E major, VI in D♯ minor, V in E minor and III in G♯ minor.