How to Play the Guitar B Chord

B chords are not the easiest to learn as a beginner guitar player but they’re a necessary part of any song-writing toolkit and can be really fun to play. There are a number of different variations and easier-to-finger versions that beginners can use to make the B chord easier to play. In this article we’ll explore these variations and also show you how to move the B chord around the fretboard for new and exciting sounds.

The B major guitar chord is made up of the notes B, D# and F#. These are the first, third and fifth of the B major scale and are the basis for any major chord. Like other triads (or 3-note chords) the B chord can be played in many different shapes and voicings.

Most commonly you’ll find the B chord in a barre form. To play this you need to place your index finger across the first four strings on the second fret (this is where the bar is in the A formation). Your middle finger then takes the G string on the fourth fret and your ring finger plays on the high E string on the fifth fret. This is a very common form of the B chord and can be heard in a huge variety of songs.

Another way to play the B chord is to take the same shape and place it an octave higher on the neck. This will give you a much bigger sound than the open version of the chord. This variation is more difficult to get the hang of and will require you to be comfortable playing a barre chord on the left hand side of the fretboard. This is a good idea to practice before trying this chord in a song as it will help you develop your finger strength and dexterity.

If you’re feeling adventurous you can try a full-blown B7 chord. This is more complicated to play than the previous variations but it’s a great chord for adding punch and drama to your music. The only downside of this chord is that it’s a bit hard on the fingers and can be tricky to play without blocking the open B string. This can be mitigated by using the right thumb positioning explained above and muting the low E string by gently touching it with your thumb.

There is a smaller version of the B chord that you can use for even more subtle effects. This is a simple Bsus4 chord that just leaves out the 2nd and 1st strings which adds an air of space to your music. This is a nice alternative to the standard open and barre B chords and can be used in place of one of them if you want to keep your picking fast.

There are a few different ways to make the B chord easier for beginners to play and it’s important to practice them all regularly to build your finger strength and dexterity. It’s also a good idea to practice transitioning between the B chord and other chords so that you can really nail the sound. By practicing consistently and taking it slowly, you’ll be able to master the B chord in no time at all.