B Major
Notes:B – D# – F#
Fingerings1 – 3 – 5
Formula:R-M3-P5
Intervals:P1-M3-P5
Scale Degrees:1-3-5
Introduction
The B major piano chord is a major triad built on B and consists of three notes: B, D#, and F#. It comes from the B Major scale (B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, and A#) and is formed using the 1st, 3rd, and 5th scale degrees. The B Major chord contains five sharps. Like all major chords, it has a bright, stable sound created by the interval structure of a major third (4 semitones) and a perfect fifth (7 semitones) above the root.
Notes
How to Play the B Major
Right Hand (RH)
Place your right hand over the keys and use the fingering: 1 – 3 – 5
Left Hand (LH)
For the left hand, use the fingering: 5 – 3 – 1
B Major Inversions
| Position | Notes |
|---|---|
| Root Position | B4 – D#5 – F#5 |
| 1st Inversion | D#4 – F#4 – B4 |
| 2nd Inversion | F#4 – B4 – D#5 |
Key Signature
The key of B Major has 5 sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯.
F♯C♯G♯D♯A♯
Theory: Intervals
Formula: R-M3-P5
Intervals: P1-M3-P5
The B Major is built by stacking intervals from the root note. The formula R-M3-P5 describes the scale degrees used. The intervals P1-M3-P5 show the distance between each note in the chord.
B Major — Frequently Asked Questions
What notes make up the B Major chord?
B Major contains three notes: B (root), D# (major third), and F# (perfect fifth). It has two black keys — D# and F# — making it one of the more challenging major chords for beginners.
What fingering do I use for B Major?
Right hand: finger 1 on B, finger 3 on D#, finger 5 on F#. Left hand: finger 5 on B, finger 3 on D#, finger 1 on F#. Both D# and F# are black keys, so fingers 1, 3, and 5 span two black keys between two white keys.
What are the inversions of B Major?
First inversion (B/D#): D#–F#–B. Second inversion (B/F#): F#–B–D#. B/F# in the bass is commonly used in classical progressions and allows a descending bass line through E–F#–B.
What songs use the B Major chord?
B Major is common in rock and pop. It appears in Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana), as the V chord in E Major songs, and as the IV chord in F# Major pieces. Many Beethoven and Chopin works use B Major in key passages.
What chords pair well with B Major?
In the key of B: E Major (IV), F# Major (V), and G# minor (vi). B–E–F# is the three-chord sequence. B–F#–G#m–E is the four-chord pop progression in the key of B.
Why is B Major considered harder than C or G Major?
B Major requires both the middle finger (D#) and pinky (F#) to press black keys simultaneously, which demands more control and wrist positioning than all-white-key chords. The hand must span across two black keys without the thumb or wrist collapsing.
Practice Tips
- Keep your wrist higher than usual for B Major — this gives fingers 3 and 5 the angle they need to press D# and F# cleanly.
- Practice slowly: set a metronome to 60 BPM and press each note deliberately, checking that all three ring together.
- The most common error with B Major is the pinky flattening on F# — keep it curved so only the fingertip presses the key.
- Practice B → E → F# → B to get comfortable with the key of B Major as a harmonic centre.
- Once comfortable, practice all three positions: B–D#–F# (root), D#–F#–B (first inv), F#–B–D# (second inv).