B Major: Scale, Chords and Progressions

Chords in the key of B major

The key of B major has 5 sharps in the key signature (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯). Its scale is B – C♯ – D♯ – E – F♯ – G♯ – A♯ and its seven chords are B, C♯m, D♯m, E, F♯, G♯m and A♯dim. The most common progression is B – F♯ – G♯m – E. Its relative key is G sharp minor. With a capo on fret 2, you can play it with the shapes of A major.

The chords in the key

B is home; E and F♯ create the movement and tension that lead back to it, and G♯m adds the minor colour. The four-note versions add the seventh.

Degree	Chord	Notes	Role	With seventh
I	B	B – D♯ – F♯	Tonic: home	Bmaj7
ii	C♯m	C♯ – E – G♯	Subdominant	C♯m7
iii	D♯m	D♯ – F♯ – A♯	Tonic substitute	D♯m7
IV	E	E – G♯ – B	Subdominant	Emaj7
V	F♯	F♯ – A♯ – C♯	Dominant: tension	F♯7
vi	G♯m	G♯ – B – D♯	Relative tonic	G♯m7
vii°	A♯dim	A♯ – C♯ – E	Dominant (leading tone)	—

Scale

B – C♯ – D♯ – E – F♯ – G♯ – A♯

With a capo

To make a song sound in B major with easy open shapes:

Capo on fret 2: play the shapes of A major
Capo on fret 4: play the shapes of G major
Capo on fret 7: play the shapes of E major

Common progressions

Loop them in the chord player and use them as the base of a song.

B – F♯ – G♯m – E I – V – vi – IV Play in the chord player
B – G♯m – E – F♯ I – vi – IV – V Play in the chord player
C♯m7 – F♯7 – Bmaj7 – Bmaj7 ii7 – V7 – Imaj7 – Imaj7 Play in the chord player
B – E – F♯ – B I – IV – V – I Play in the chord player

Frequently asked questions

What chords are in the key of B major?

Its seven chords are B, C♯m, D♯m, E, F♯, G♯m and A♯dim.

How many sharps or flats does B major have?

It has 5 sharps in the key signature (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯).

What is the relative key of B major?

Its relative key is G sharp minor: they share the same notes and chords.