Chords in the Key of B Major

The key of B major has 7 chords: B, C♯m, D♯m, E, F♯, G♯m and A♯°. Play them, see them with 7ths and numbers, and try common progressions.

B major: 5 sharps (F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯ A♯)

Scale: B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A♯ · Relative minor: G♯ minor · Same sound as C♭ major

The 7 chords in the key of B major. Press a chord to hear it.
Roman	Nashville	Function
I	1	tonic
ii	2m	predominant
iii	3m	tonic or dominant
IV	4	predominant
V	5	dominant
vi	6m	tonic
vii°	7°	dominant

Common progressions in B major

I–IV–V–IB E F♯ B
I–V–vi–IVB F♯ G♯m E
vi–IV–I–VG♯m E B F♯
I–vi–IV–VB G♯m E F♯
ii–V–IC♯m7 F♯7 Bmaj7
I–IV–vi–VB E G♯m F♯
I–iii–IV–ivB D♯m E Em
I–♭VII–IV–IB A E B
12-bar bluesB7 B7 B7 B7 E7 E7 B7 B7 F♯7 E7 B7 F♯7
I–vi–ii–VB G♯m C♯m F♯
I–IV–I–VB E B F♯
IV–V–iii–viE F♯ D♯m G♯m

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Guitar chords in B major

B I · x24442
C♯m ii · x4212x
D♯m iii · xx1342
E IV · 022100
F♯ V · 244322
G♯m vi · 466444
A♯° vii° · x1232x

Key signature and scale

B major has 5 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯). The B major scale is B – C♯ – D♯ – E – F♯ – G♯ – A♯. It sounds the same as C♭ major, which is written with 7 flats.

Its relative minor is G♯ minor: same signature, same chords, a different home chord. Next to it on the circle of fifths are F♯ major (one more sharp or one less flat) and E major (one more flat or one less sharp); songs often move to these keys.

Progressions in B major

Progression	In B major
I–IV–V–I	B E F♯ B
I–V–vi–IV	B F♯ G♯m E
vi–IV–I–V	G♯m E B F♯
I–vi–IV–V	B G♯m E F♯

Press Play in the tool above to hear them, or Transpose to move a progression to another key. Need these chords in another key? Use the transposition chart.

Chords in other keys

Frequently asked questions

What chords are in the key of B major?

The seven chords are B, C♯m, D♯m, E, F♯, G♯m and A♯° (I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, vii°).

How many sharps or flats does B major have?

B major has 5 sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯. Its scale is B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A♯.

What is the relative minor of B major?

G♯ minor. The two keys share the same key signature and the same seven chords; they differ in which chord feels like home.

Which chords in B major are hard on guitar, and can a capo help?

Played without a capo the main chords are B, E, F♯, G♯m. With a capo on fret 4 you can play G shapes instead: G, C, D, Em, and it still sounds in B major.

What is the V chord in B major?

F♯ (or F♯7 as a 7th chord). It pulls strongly back to B.

Last updated: October 12, 2026