case study b chords

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Six String Acoustic

5 Ways to Play the B chord on Guitar

There are many ways to play the B chord on guitar. Below are 5 of those ways.

Learning how to play the same chord in different ways and around different parts of the fretboard is a great way to add to your repertoire and can really help you to change the flavor of a song, help to add some uniqueness when writing songs and gives you some options when improvising.

To clarify: When I say “B”, I mean B major.

B Chord Variation 1: Open B Variation 1

Most people don’t typically play an open B. B is usually played as a barre chord (see variation 3 below) as the go-to for most people. But you can play B in the open position without using a barre chord.

This first variation of the open B chord isn’t really an open chord – but it’s close to that open position on the fretboard.

This is played by:

• Placing your 1 st finger (index finger) in the 2 nd fret of the High E string
• Placing your 2 nd finger (middle finger) in the 4 th fret of the D string
• Placing your 3 rd finger (ring finger) in the 4 th fret of the G string
• Placing your 4 th finger (pinky) in the 4 th fret of the B string

Only the D, G, B and High E strings are strummed when strumming this chord. I like to bring my thumb over the top of the neck to mute the Low E and A strings so that I don’t accidentally play them and so that I don’t have to think as hard about my strumming hand.

B Chord Variation 2: Open B Variation 2

Another variation you can use in the first position is a little bit more difficult to play but it has a different flavor and makes use of the open B string. There are a couple of variations within this variation.

• Placing your 1 st finger (index finger) in the 1 st fret of the D string
• Placing your 2 nd finger (middle finger) in the 2 nd fret of the A string
• Placing your 3 rd finger (ring finger) in the 2 nd fret of the High E string

Here you don’t strum the Low E string and you need to either mute the G string (either with your pinky or by flattening out your index finger) or place your pinky finger in the 4 th fret of the G string (quite a stretch!).

This chord is best used for finger-picking and not strumming, in my opinon, because even muting that G string can still bring in that discordant character so, unless that discordance is what you’re after, it doesn’t necessarily sound good strumming.

The other way you could play this to give it yet another flavor, is to give it an F# bass.

• Placing your 2 nd finger (middle finger) in the 2 nd fret of the Low E string
• Placing your 3 rd finger (ring finger) in the 2 nd fret of the A string
• Placing your 4 th finger (pinky) in the 2 nd fret of the High E string

Here you would strum all of the strings but you’ll need to flatten out your index finger a little to mute that G string.

B Chord Variation 3: Barre B

The Barre B chord is the most played of the B chords and can be played in two main positions.

The A string Barre B” is played by barring the 2 nd fret and creating the open A shape in the 4 th fret. All the strings except for the Low E are strummed when strumming this chord.

If you aren’t sure about how to play barre chords check out the link below.

>>How to Play Major Barre Chords on Guitar

How you create the A shape is up to you. Personally, I find more difficult to put all 3 of my fingers into the 4 th fret so I make that A shape by barring the D, G, & B strings in the 4 th fret with my 3 rd finger (ring finger).

The “E string Barre B” is played by barring the 7th fret with your index finger and making an open E shape in the 8 th and 9 th frets. This chord adds an extra B into the chord (6 th fret high E string) that’s an octave higher than the highest B in the “A string Barre B”.

>>How to Play Bm Chords on Guitar

So whilst people often consider these two barre chords exactly the same, there is a slight difference and a subtly different flavor.

B Chord Variation 4: Higher up the fretboard

This variation gives a B chord option that is higher up the fretboard. It has a significantly different flavor to the Barre chords we just learned. This chord almost has a ukulele feel to it (IMO).

• Place your 1 st finger on the 9 th fret on the D string
• Place your 2 nd finger on the 11 th fret on the G string
• Place your 3 rd finger on the 11 th fret on the high E string
• Place your 4 th finger on the 12 th fret on the B string

Don’t strum the Low E and A strings when you are strumming this.

You can also bring in a F# bass by barring the A and D strings with your 1 st finger. I find that this (and without the F# bass) sounds best when fingerpicking or flat-picking but you can strum it too.

B Chord Variation 5: Mid Fingerboard

Now a nice easy one to finish.

• Place the 1 st finger in the 7 th fret of the B string
• Place the 2 nd finger in the 7 th fret on the high e string
• Place the 3 rd finger in the 8 th fret on the G string
• Place the 4 th finger in the 9 th fret on the D string

Strum only the D, G, B and high e strings. This is the same shape as is used for an open F chord.

The other way you can play it is by barring the B and low e strings with your 1 st finger and using your 2 nd and 3 rd fingers for the other 2 notes. This frees up your pinky to do other things.

Another variation is to barre the B and high e strings with your 1 st finger and use your 2 nd finger in the 8 th fret on the G string, your 3 rd finger in the 9 th fret A string and your 4 th finger in the 9 th fret on the D string. This gives you a B with an F# bass.

Thanks for Reading

I hope this post has given you some new options for playing the B major chord. A

re there any other ways that you like to play the B chord? Feel free to leave a comment below.

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FAQs How To Play B Chord on Guitar

If you are struggling to get your head and fingers around the B chord in any of its forms, then try to make sure that you have learned some other open chords first. Even if you feel you have learned all of the important ones (C, A, G, E, and D), make sure that you can play them with your eyes closed. Once you have these chords under your belt, then you should have enough knowledge to properly tackle the big scary B chord. One of the simplest methods for learning the B chord is to play it in its barred form, typically using the shape of an A open chord or E open chord, moving either up the fretboard until they turn into a B chord.

One of the easiest ways to play a B major (or at least to conceptually get your head around how to play one considering that you cannot play it in an open shape without a capo) is to use a barre shape. You will have the most luck at first using an E barre shape or an A barre shape. These function much like a capo, but instead of a capo, you use your finger to barre the entire width of the fretboard, momentarily affecting the tuning and temperament of the guitar. Of course, it might take a little longer than your mind for your fingers to catch up with such a maneuver, but keep at it!

Just as there is no open F chord on the guitar , there is technically no open B chord either. Of course, you can use a capo to modify the pitch of the guitar, enabling you to play an open chord that sounds like a B. By placing a capo on the 2nd fret, for example, you can play an A shape and hear a B – likewise with the capo on the 7th fret with an E shape. You can, though, play a B7 in an open. Place your index finger on the 1st fret of the D string. Then, place your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the A string. Place your ring finger on the 2nd fret of the G string. Finally, place your little finger on the 2nd fret of the high E string.

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By Nate Pallesen

Nate is just your average (above average) guitar player. He's no Joe Satriani, Jimi Hendrix or Jimmy Page - wait this site is about acoustic guitars (sorry) He's no Django Reinhardt, Chet Atkins, or Michael Hedges, wait? who!? He's no Robert Johnson, Eric Clapton or Ben Harper - more familiar? Anyway you get the point :-)

I can play most cords but i have short fingers and am having a problem playing the B cord what is the best way can i learn to play that cord

Thanks for your message.

I would experiment with the different variations and see what feels best for you. The go to for most is playing this as a barre chord, but if you aren’t comfortable playing bar chords then maybe something like Variation 5 would be more comfortable. It does mean you’re getting quite far away from the first fret which is where you might be playing most of your other chords – in which case it’s probably not ideal. Maybe you would find variation 2 easier – and it’s closer to other open chords, if that’s what you’re using for your other chords.

Hope this helps

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Mastering the B Chord on Guitar: A Step-by-Step Guide

Jesse 'Bluesman' Johnson

Table of contents, understanding the b chord on guitar.

Proper Finger Placement for the B Chord

Common Challenges and Solutions

Exercises to Improve Finger Dexterity

Tips for Mastering the B Chord

Using the B Chord in Different Musical Styles

Expanding Your Chord Vocabulary

Taking Your Guitar Skills to the Next Level

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How to Play the B Chord on the Guitar (Exercises & Variations)

• September 22, 2022
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[Acoustic Guitar Chords] > How to Play the B Chord on the Guitar (Exercises & Variations)

Learning how to play the B chord requires a bit more effort than some of the other beginner guitar chords out there. 

But since this is a chord that shows up in countless songs, it’s essential for your guitar-playing and song-writing toolkit.

If you’ve struggled to figure this chord out – don’t sweat it!

This easy guide will walk you through the basic techniques you need to know.

We’ll also look at some variations on the B chord that make it easier for beginners – and show you a few exercises to help you really nail it with a little bit of practice.

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What Is a B Chord?

So what’s the B chord all about? 

It’s one of the most essential chords when learning guitar, but it can also be a tricky one due to finger positioning. But, like any new technique, with a bit of practice, the shape will become second nature.

The B chord, also known as the B Major chord, is a mid-range chord. It includes the notes B, D sharp, and F sharp and uses a barre chord structure as opposed to an open chord structure.

A quick reminder – open chords are played with open strings that aren’t fretted, while barre chords include multiple strings pressed down across a single fret of the fingerboard.

When learning to play guitar, I usually recommend learning some of the simpler open chords, such as the D chord , G chord , and C chord , before taking on the B chord.

How to Play the B Chord on the Guitar

Before we begin, check out this article on chord diagrams so that you’re familiar with reading the diagrams I’ve included in this guide. You might also want to brush up on chord progressions if you’re thinking of incorporating the B chord into some of your chord sequences.

Next, use the 5-step guide and the associated diagram I put together to form a B chord, starting with your index finger. 

How to play the B Chord:

• Play a barre chord with your index finger laying across the A, D, G, B, and E strings.
• Place your middle finger on the fourth fret of the D string.
• Place your ring finger on the fourth fret of the G string.
• Place your small pinky finger on the fourth fret of the B string.
• Now that your fingers are in place, strum down with your pick or your thumb, and relish in the excellent sound of the B chord!

Now I know what you’re thinking: this is uncomfortable. 

But that’s okay! 

It’s like using a muscle for the first time – it takes some getting used to. With time and practice it will feel better – trust me. 

I’ve included some exercises down below that you can use to train this movement in your hand and your muscle memory.

B Chord Guitar Finger Positioning Tips

Now we’re on to finger positioning. 

Knowing where and how to place your fingers is going to make playing a B chord way less challenging.

It might feel that you’re asking your fingers to go further than they physically can when you’re not used to the barre chord position. 

As your index finger remains flat on the barre, it feels like a big stretch to where your other fingers need to go, which is further up along the neck. Countless guitar players have felt this way and have overcome it – and you will too!

• Use the tips of your fingers: Once your fingers are in the right position, make sure to press down hard enough with the tips of your fingers, not the pads. If you’re too gentle with your finger position, you might find that you’re playing a few dead notes or getting some fret buzz .
• Don’t flatten your fingers: Make sure you have an arch in your fingers – this will help you avoid pressing down on other strings.
• Place fingers just behind the fret: As with playing any chord, be sure to place your fingers just behind the fret, rather than on the fret. This helps avoid muted notes and will ensure that your B chord rings out brightly and clearly.

Easier B Chord Variations

As with many things in guitar, there are multiple ways to play the B chord; we’re going to show you a few of the easiest B chord options. 

Try a couple out and see which ones feel good for you.

The 3-Note Versions

If you’re looking to scale the B chord back a bit, there are two simple 3-note versions you can try. 

Although they may sound a bit thin, they’re still an official B chord, and they’re great for anyone struggling to play the barre chord as they only require three fingers.

Here’s how to do the first one:

Fret and strum only the three highest strings, with the following position:

• Index finger on 2nd fret of the high E string
• Ring finger on 4th fret of the G string
• Pinky finger on 4th fret of the B string

Now that your fingers are in place, strum down on the three strings.

And here’s how to do the second:

Place your fingers in the following position:

• Index finger on the 7th fret of the high E string
• Index finger on the 7th fret of the B string
• Middle finger on the 8th fret of the G string

Again, once your fingers are positioned, strum down on the three strings.

Alternate Versions of the B Chord

You thought you were done with the 3-note versions?

Hardly! There are even more versions of the B Chord for you to try out – I’ve included two more barre chords below. 

Give them a try and see if you can hear a fuller sound compared to the three-note versions above.

Barre B Chord in 2nd Position 

Position your fingers in the following way:

• Index finger on the 2nd fret of the A string
• Middle finger on the 4th fret of the D string
• Ring finger on the 4th fret of the G string
• Pinky finger on the 4th fret of the B string

Now, strum the four strings down from the A string, and boom – you’ve got a barre B chord!

Barre B Chord in 7th Position 

For this barre chord, position your fingers as follows:

• Index finger on the 7th fret of the low E string
• Index finger on the 7th fret of the E string
• Index finger on the 7th fret of the G string
• Ring finger on the 9th fret of the A string
• Pinky finger on the 9th fret of the D string

Now strum six strings from the low E string for a full, huge-sounding B chord!

Exercises to Improve Your B Chord

Now that we’ve covered the basics of how to play this essential chord with both a stripped-back sound and a fuller sound, let’s have a look at exercises you can do to practice playing it:

• Practice consistently . If you can’t dedicate a whole hour every couple of days, then how about 5 minutes every day? Break it down into small, achievable chunks – they’re just as beneficial.
• Practice your chords . Practicing the shapes with your fingers will help you with your finger positioning in the future. It will make the unusual finger positions feel a lot more comfortable. When practicing, make sure the chord sounds good. If it doesn’t, it might be because your finger positioning is off.
• Strengthen your pinky. As you can see in the above examples, the B chord calls for a lot of pinky finger use. It’s not uncommon to have an extremely weak pinky, so it’s important to do exercises that strengthen your pinky .

Are You Ready to Take Your Guitar Playing to the Next Level?

Now that you’re a bit more familiar with the B chord, it’s time to start learning some other chords. You might also want to work on some picking exercises or chord progressions .

Want to take your practice to the next level? Then check out this FREE guitar class , where I show you the three secrets to accelerate your guitar learning in just 10 minutes a day.

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How Do I Master the B Chord on Guitar? The Complete Guide for the Aspiring Guitarist

Seeking guidance on ‘How to I play a B chord on guitar?’ You’ve hit the right note! Join us in this comprehensive guide, as we delve into mastering the B chord on your guitar – step by step, fret by fret.

Introduction

For anyone just tuning into the exciting world of guitar, getting the chords right is an essential first step. But wait, you’re saying, “Hold your horses, what’s a chord?” Well, you’re not alone! In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive headfirst into the world of chords, particularly focusing on “How to I play a B chord on guitar?” So, stick around, because we’re about to rock and roll!

What is a Guitar Chord?

In the simplest of terms, a guitar chord is when you play two or more notes simultaneously. It’s the bread and butter of many famous songs and instrumental pieces, creating a harmonious sound that adds depth to the music.

You might have heard of the term ‘chord progression’, which is a series of chords played in a particular order. It forms the backbone of a song’s structure. But enough of the music theory jargon, let’s get back to our core question: How to I play a B chord on guitar?

Understanding the B Chord

Among the chords on a guitar, the B chord is notoriously tricky for beginners. That’s because it often involves barring multiple strings with one finger, a technique that can be challenging for newbies. However, as the saying goes, “practice makes perfect,” and with enough repetition and commitment, you’ll be strumming that B chord like a pro!

How to I Play a B Chord on Guitar?

Now we’re getting to the meat and potatoes of our discussion. Playing a B chord on the guitar involves placing your fingers on the right frets and strings. Here are the steps:

• Position your index finger to bar all the strings on the second fret.
• Place your middle finger on the fourth string (the D string) at the fourth fret.
• Your ring finger goes on the third string (G string) at the fourth fret.
• Lastly, place your pinky on the second string (B string) at the fourth fret.

Voila! That’s the B chord for you. It might seem a bit like juggling at first, but with patience, you’ll get the hang of it.

Common Issues with Playing the B Chord

As we’ve mentioned, the B chord can be a bit of a pickle for beginners, but hey, Rome wasn’t built in a day, right? Some common issues include muted strings (when they don’t ring out clearly), discomfort or pain, and difficulty changing to the B chord quickly. We’ll tackle these issues later on in our troubleshooting section, so keep reading!

Easier Versions of the B Chord for Beginners

If you’re just starting and the B chord is giving you the blues, worry not! There are simplified versions of the B chord that can help you get started without fretting (pun intended!).

Two-String B Chord

The two-string version is as easy as pie. Here’s how you do it:

• Place your index finger on the first string at the second fret.
• Put your middle finger on the second string at the fourth fret.

This version is much simpler, but remember, it’s just a stepping-stone towards mastering the full B chord.

How to Transition Smoothly to the B Chord

Switching from one chord to another like a pro is something all aspiring guitarists strive for. This section will help you understand the ropes of transitioning to the B chord smoothly.

Exercises for Smoother Chord Transitions

Think of playing the guitar as a workout for your fingers. Regular exercise and practice will improve your chord transitions. Here are a few exercises you can try:

• Practice switching between the B chord and other common chords like A, E, and G.
• Use a metronome to maintain a steady rhythm as you practice.
• Start slow, then gradually increase your speed as your fingers get used to the movements.

Troubleshooting B Chord Issues

Even with lots of practice, you might encounter a few roadblocks. But, don’t throw in the towel just yet. Let’s troubleshoot some of those pesky B chord issues.

Battling Muted Strings

If you find that some strings are not ringing clearly, check your finger positioning. Make sure your fingers are not unintentionally touching the neighboring strings. It might take a few tweaks here and there, but eventually, you’ll get a clean, crisp B chord sound.

• It varies from person to person, but with regular practice, you should be able to get a good handle on the B chord within a few weeks.
• ‘Horse with No Name’ by America is a great song for beginners to practice the B chord.
• A little discomfort is normal when you’re just starting out, but if you experience persistent pain, it might be best to take a break and consult a music teacher or professional.
• Absolutely! There are various ways to play the B chord, including B minor, B7, Bm7, etc.
• Many songs use the B chord, but not all. However, learning it will definitely expand your repertoire.
• Both are good options. It might be slightly easier on an electric guitar due to the lighter string tension, but the technique remains the same.

Learning to play the B chord on the guitar might seem like a tall order at first, but with perseverance and a little know-how, you can certainly pull it off. Remember, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step – or in this case, a single strum. Happy playing!

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Home » Guitars » B Guitar Chord Guide: 9 Variations and How to Play Them (With Charts and Videos)

B Guitar Chord Guide: 9 Variations and How to Play Them (With Charts and Videos)

In this article, we will teach you how to play the B guitar chord by covering, first, the most common finger shapes of the B Major followed by lesser used variations that add a special sound to this familiar chord.

The B major chord and the B Major key, in general, are many guitarists’ favorites. This is because you can play it in shapes that use open strings, barre chords, and a combination of both that adds up for very unique sounds.

Table of Contents

Tips, Tricks, and Common Challenges

Brief music theory, 2. b major – barre alternative fingering, 3. b major – barre variation 2, 5. b major – variation 1, 8. b7 chord – blues chord, 1. b major – barre (most common).

The most commonly used chord shape of B Major is the barre chord with a root on the 2nd fret of the A string. This particular shape and position make it easy to go from open chords, suppose A major, to B Major in an instant.

The first thing to keep in mind about barre chords is that, when playing them, the index finger takes the role of the guitar nut and holds down more than 1 string. If you are new to the concept then these shapes can be a small challenge, but nothing that cannot be overcome with some practice. The tricky part is getting the barre right and heaving all the notes ring out, but you will find it easier than expected with the help of some tips listed below.

There are 2 ways to play this B major shape. For the first shape, use the following fingering:

• Put your first finger (index) on the 2nd fret of the A string as a barre, holding down the A, D, G, B, and E string.
• Put your second finger (middle) on the 4th fret of the D String
• Put your third finger (ring) on the 4th fret of the G string.
• Put your fourth finger (pinky) on the 4th of the B string.
• Strum gently and make sure all of the notes ring out

Try to think about this fingering like this. Imagine an A major chord and take that shape 2 frets up the neck, then visualize your index finger in the role of a capo and place it firmly on the second fret while fingering the A major shape with the other 3 fingers. You’ve moved all of the notes in an open A major chord up 2 frets, or 1 full step (each fret is a half step), from an A chord to a B guitar chord.

The advantage of this shape is that all strings, inducing the high E, ring out. On the downside, having your 3 fingers compressed in the 4th fret can be a bit tricky. Especially the 4th fret of the D string is a bit challenging since your finger is forced to stay not as close to the fret as you would normally place it.

The second fingering of this shape is probably easier for most beginner guitarists.

• Put your index finger on the 2nd fret of the A string
• Put your ring finger or pinky, depending on what feels best for you, as a barre on the 4th freet for the D, G, and B string
• Play softly all the strings and check for buzzes

This type of barre with your ring or pinky requires a bit of strength to get right, but it’s usually a faster way to grab the chord shape and also it’s easier to get the chord clean and avoid the 3 finger cluster on the 4th fret.

On the downside, however, it’s easy to accidentally block the high E string with your ring finger barre. But the chord still sounds full and in some situations, you don’t need the high E string ringing out anyways.

For a better insight and detailed explanation of this chord shape have a look at this video:

The challenge with any barre chord shape is to get the barre right and avoid putting a lot of pressure in your hand. These tips can help out a lot with both issues.

1. Hold your guitar like a classical guitar player

Place the guitar on your left leg (or right if you are a leftie) and hold the guitar neck up. This places the arm and hand in a more natural position and allows you to do bigger stretches with less pressure.

2. Carefully check the thumb positioning

The thumb position is the main element in getting all chords sound right on the guitar. Many players neglect how important placing your thumb can be. To get the B major chord right you should aim to place the thumb close to the center of the guitar neck. This assures that your handstands straight and the finger presses down with enough power to barre.

3. Mute the E string

Use the tip of your index finger to lightly touch the Low E string. This way you make sure you don’t have any unwanted sounds when strumming.

Expert Insight

If you can, try to hold this B major chord shape with either the first fingering or by barring the ring finger. This way your pinky is free to play around with some extended chord shapes we will learn in another lesson.

All major chords follow the same formula of Root or 1st, 3rd, and 5th. These numbers correspond to notes from the B major scale.

The notes of the B major scale are

The B major chord is formed from the notes B, D#, and F#.

Knowing the notes of the chord helps memorize the fretboard and find chord shapes more easily. Try to spell out loud, or sing if you can the notes of the B major chord. It’s a very rewarding exercise for guitarists of all levels.

The B major chord can also be played in a higher octave. This variation of the B major is the same shape as the first chord we just learned but in a higher octave – that means 12 frets up the neck.

An alternative fingering for a B Barre chord is the following:

• Put your index finger on the 14th fret of the A string.
• Put your ring finger or pinky, depending on what feels best for you, as a barre on the 16tth fret of the D, G, and B string

There are plenty of other ways to play the B major chord. Another B chord guitar shape with the root on the 7th fret on the E string.

The B Barre 2nd Variation fingering is as follows:

• Put your first finger (index) as a Barre on the 7th fret
• Put your second finger (middle) on the 8th fret of the G string
• Put your third finger (ring) on the 9th fret of the A string
• Put your fourth finger (pinky) on the 9th fret of the D string
• Strum with your right hand slowly and pick all strings to make sure all ring out

This chord shape is very useful to get a fuller guitar sound and also is used a lot if you are playing a series of barre chords. What makes it tougher than the previous shape is that it might require some more strength on the left hand to get the barre right.

Have a look at the video to see how the chord is formed and some help on getting it right

(Video 2 Coming Soon)

4. B Power Chord

To play a B Power Chord:

• Place your first finger (index) on the 7th great of the E string.
• Place your third finger (ring)on the 9th fret of the A string.
• Place your fourth finger (pinky) on the 9th of the D string.

Power Chords are a common chord shape for Rock music. This B chord guitar shape very easy to play and sound great when played with a high gain tone on electric guitar. Power chords are not either major or minor, their nature depends on the context of the music and they work great in both situations.

Similar fingering to a Barre chord but without the “barre”, your index finger will simply play the root note. You’ll notice the B power chord, like all power chords, only plays the 1st and the 5th note of the key signature, dropping the 3rd note in the key signature as you would see in a Major Chord.

Have a look at the video to see how a power chord is formed and how to play one with ease.

(Video 3 Coming Soon)

Always gently rest your index finger on the G, B, and E strings. This way you assure that you don’t have any unwanted sounds coming out of the chords.

You can try the same concept of the B power chord on the A string. Try this as an exercise and try not to use a chord chart for this.

Find where the B note is on the A string and hold the same shape but in the B, D, and string. You will notice that moving the same shape you used on the E string will work out great on the A string.

One B Major chord variation that is relatively easy to play follows the following fingering:

• Put your first finger (index) as a barre on the 4th fret of the D, G, and B
• Put your fourth finger (pinky) on the 7th fret of the high E string
• Play only the D, G, B, and high E strings

This shape is perfect when you are playing along with a bass player or another guitar player playing a B Major chord because It does not have any bass notes (notes on the A or E string). If other instruments are playing the low notes then it’s probably better you don’t.

Another reason why this chord sounds very good is because of the high E string playing out the B note on the 7th fret. That added B note adds a lot of “flavor” and makes the chord sound “sweet.”

This more uncommon variation of the B Major chord is explained in detail in this video.

(Video 4 Coming Soon)

6. B Major – Variation 2

A very special variation of the B Major chord uses both notes from the barre chord shape and also the open B string. A second B Major Variation is played as follows:

• Place your third finger (ring) on the 9th fret of the D string.
• Place your second finger (middle) on the 8th fret of the G string.
• Place your first finger (index) on the 7th fret of the high E string.
• Leave the B string open and play the D, G, B, and high E strings.

This chord variation sounds very “bright” and “open”. The added open B string gives a natural sustain to the chord and makes for a very unique sound. Most guitarists rarely use these shapes, that’s why learning/playing it is so much fun!

Have a look at this video for a better understanding and to see this chord in action

(Video 5 Coming Soon)

Keep in mind a very simple concept when playing B major chord variations. All variations (or sometimes called inversion) are playing the same 3 notes, the B, F#, and D# in different spots on the fretboard and also different strings per note.

For example, in some variations, the lower note (the note on the lower string) can be the B. In some other variation, the lower note can be the F#. Depending on this the chord will sound much different and give out a different vibe.

Open strings are your friend! Whenever you can play an open string as part of a chord you should try it out.

Guitars, especially acoustics, resonate better when open strings are played and have more natural sustain giving out an almost “dreamy” tone. So, if you are playing an E, A, G, D, B, or E chord, try to add the open string that corresponds to the name of the chord.

7. CAGED B Major Chords

The caged system is a method used by many guitar players to organize the fretboard and play each chord in 5 different shapes. The shapes or those of C, A, G, E, and D open chords.

The system takes these shapes and changes the root note to different positions on the fretboard. So with the help of a capo, you can shift the key of your guitar and play a B Major chord using the same finger shapes that you have learned to play the chords C, A, G, E, and D when there is no capo on the guitar. The image below depicts 5 ways to play a B major chord using the CAGED method.

This concept can be tricky to grasp at first. Think of it like this, First, you have learned how to play the chords C, A, G, E, and D in standard tuning and have your fingers trained to make these 5 chord shapes. There is a location on the fretboard where you can play the same 5 finger shapes only it will be a B chord. It’s just a matter of where you need to use a capo so that you can play the open strings as well. For a better understanding of the Caged B Major chords, have a look at the video.

(Video 6 Coming Soon)

The best way to visualize the CAGED B major chord is to imagine that you have a virtual CAPO that is placed anywhere that a B note is found in any of the strings.

For example, hold the D Major chord and notice that the root is on the open D string and the 3rd fret of the B string (both D notes). Now find where there is a B note is on the D string (9th fret) and where the B note is on the B string (12th fret). We see that we can find the B root notes up 9 frets, so we can shift all of the notes from an open D chord up 9 frets, hold the same shape but up in this new position, and we have a B chord using the same finger shape as an open D chord.

A very good exercise is to visualize all the B notes on the fretboard and play the chord shape that is built around them. This proves to be a challenge even for intermediate players but is a skill that can be learned by all levels.

The B7 chord is probably one of the best sounding of all the 7th chords on the guitar and is widely used in many blues songs. The B7 fingering looks like this:

• Place your second finger (middle) on the 2nd fret of the A
•  Place your first finger (index) on the 1st fret of the D
• Place your third finger (ring) on the 2nd fret of the G
• Leave the B string open
• Place your fourth finger (pinky) on the 2nd fret of the high E
• Play all 5 strings starting from the A down to the high E

This chord sounds very “tense” (just what we like in blues music!) and also very “open,” since you play an open B string too. The challenge is to not block the open B string and also to mute the Low E string.

The right thumb positioning, as explained above, can help you for the open B and regarding muting the E string, you can do that by gently touching it with the tip of your middle finger.

Have a look at the video for a bit more detailing on this cool sounding blues chord.

(Video 7 Coming Soon)

How To Play B Chord On Electric Guitar

If you are playing lead on electric guitar to make the chord sound good in the context of the music, sometimes you should not play the notes on the low E and A strings.

From the B major barre chord, apply only a small barre on the B and High E while holding down on the 8th fret of the G string. This is only half the chord but will work great with a clean guitar tone, especially if there is another guitarist or bass guitarist in your band’s mix. You can provide a more treble-driven “lead” tone.

On the other hand, if you are playing rhythm on electric guitar, Power Chords are a popular choice.

Final Tips on Playing the B Major chord

1. Learn more about the power of muting with the right hand

If you are playing an arpeggio with the notes of the B major chord or you are playing a B power chord you might try to rest gently your right hand on the bridge on the string you aren’t playing. This makes sure you don’t have any other string ring out.

2. Be mindful of pain in your arm or wrist

Some soreness in your fingers or wrist is normal for all beginner guitarists. However, if you are feeling pain in your arm or wrist you should consider your positioning and posture and consider adjusting.

3. Strum gently to avoid fret buzz.

When you are first learning a chord, pay attention to your strumming and make sure you aren’t strumming too hard. A lot of strength from the right hand can make the chords buzz, especially if you are just learning the chord. So just start playing softly at first and pick notes one by one to test out any new chord.

4. Three note chords are called triads.

Triads are like brokoli! Learning them is an essential skill to become an advanced player and they should be part of your daily practice routine.

5. The mixture of 2 different B chord shapes produces a better mix and unique tone.

If you are jamming with a friend or playing in a band make sure that you play a different chord shape that he/she is playing. For example, If he/she is playing a B power chord, which uses low notes, it may sound best if your B guitar chord utilizes some high notes with a shape that uses the B and high E strings.

My name is Chris and I’ve had a passion for music and guitars for as long as I can remember. I started this website with some of my friends who are musicians, music teachers, gear heads, and music enthusiasts so we could provide high-quality guitar and music-related content.

I’ve been playing guitar since I was 13 years old and am an avid collector. Amps, pedals, guitars, bass, drums, microphones, studio, and recording gear, I love it all.

I was born and raised in Western Pennsylvania. My background is in Electrical Engineering, earning a Bachelor’s degree from Youngstown State University. With my engineering experience, I’ve developed as a designer of guitar amplifiers and effects. A true passion of mine, I’ve designed, built, and repaired a wide range of guitar amps and electronics. Here at the Guitar Lobby, our aim is to share our passion for Music and gear with the rest of the music community.

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5 Ways To Play The B Chord On Guitar

The B chord comes up frequently in guitar music, which makes it a great one to know. That said, it’s also not the easiest chord out there. Like many guitarists, I used to avoid playing it most of the time. Hopefully this post will convince you not to make the same mistake. Rather, we’re going to confront the B chord head-on.

If you’re just here for a quick reference, you’ll find all five B chord shapes below:  

How to Read a Chord Diagram

Chord diagrams are the easiest way to communicate how groups of notes should be fretted on the guitar. Check out the chord diagram below:  

You’ll notice 6 vertical lines and 5 horizontal lines. Each vertical line represents a guitar string, while each horizontal line represents a fret. Each black dot is a note to be fretted, and the numbers within the black dotes indicate a recommended fingering.

Fingering notation is easy enough to grasp for the fretting hand: 1 = index finger, 2 = middle finger, 3 = ring finger, and 4 = pinky. Any finger number that occurs on multiple frets suggests a type of barre chord. Usually that’ll be performed by the index finger.

You might see certain X’s and O’s above the diagram. They’re not meant to haunt you, but to convey which strings should be played open (O’s) and which strings shouldn’t sound (X’s). For B Major #1 above, you either need to mute strings 5 and 6 or simply start your strum on the 4th string.

What's a B Chord?

We can think of a chord as three or more pitches heard simultaneously. When we’re talking about a B chord, we’re using a shorthand for a B major chord. Fortunately, all major chords are built the same way; this one just happens to start with B.

You build a major chord using a root note (B) and two other notes at specific intervals above the root. These intervals are a major third (which gives the major chord its name) and a perfect fifth.

You can find third intervals by counting  every other  note in the musical alphabet: B, D, F, A, C, etc. As you can see, D is a third above B while F is a third above D (and thus a fifth above B).

So we know that a B chord should contain the letters B, D, and F. However, what makes the B chord tricky is that it actually contains the notes B, D#, and F#. D is still a third above B, but it’s only a minor third. Raising it one half-step (or up one fret on the guitar), we get a major third.

It’s basically the same story for F; one way to think of a perfect fifth is that it contains two notes 7 half-steps apart (which is a 7 fret distance on the guitar). If you count up by half steps, you’ll realize that F# is exactly a perfect fifth above B. In fact, let’s do that count right now: B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#. That’s seven half-steps up!

I know that seems like a lot of information. Let’s just say that the least you should know is that a B major chord contains the notes B, D#, and F#. Check all the above shapes against a fretboard note diagram and you’ll see they all contain at least one of each of those notes and no others.

If some of these ideas are challenging for you, I think you should head over to  this helpful post . It’s about leveling up your theory game with the right books.

Why Is the B Chord Difficult on Guitar?

I think it’s a fair question, and one that isn’t easy to answer. First off, in many respects the B chord isn’t difficult at all. You can play one of the easier shapes above and get by, no problem. Also, the standard B barre chord (shape #4 above) is actually one of the easier barre chords out there. Your index finger only needs to apply pressure to the 5th and 1st strings, as the middle three strings are fretted. I believe anyone can master this chord with a bit of practice.

But why isn’t it as easy as D, A, E, or C? I’d say the main reason has to do with the guitar’s tuning (EADGBE). Most of the “easy” chords we think of take advantage of multiple open strings. This saves the left hand some work.

Let’s consider a classic open C chord, pictured below:

The C chord contains the notes C, E, and G. You’ll notice that this shape takes advantage of the open G and high E strings, allowing you to sound five strings while fretting only three.

Unfortunately, as the notes B, D#, and F# make up a B chord, you don’t have that same open-string shortcut. Sure, you can throw in an open B string, but the truth is, D# and F# are a bit awkward on the guitar. I’d say that’s the main reason the B chord shapes are never  that  easy.

Common Chord Progressions

Here are some common chord progressions that involve the B chord:

B – E – F#

C#m – F# – B

E – A – B

F# – A# – B

F#m – B – E

E – B – Cm – A

The Easiest Ways to Play the B Chord

Who doesn’t want to make things easier on themselves? I can’t say I blame you. Life’s hard enough! For me, the diagram below represents the easiest way to play the B chord:

Just take up that shape and strum down starting from the 3rd string. From lowest pitch to highest, you’re playing the notes B, D#, and F#. And no, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with a 3-string chord. Sometimes it’s best to keep things simple.

Here’s the second-easiest way to play the B chord:

This shape adds the second finger above the third. You might find the two-fret separation between your index and remaining fingers uncomfortable at first; that’s completely normal. Just keep at it and trust that your fingers will get used to the position. The notes in this shape, going from bass strings to treble strings, are F#, B, D#, and F# (one octave above the other F#).

The final easy B chord shape is as follows:

This one’s another three-string chord, but it sounds fuller due to the bass strings. If you play fingerstyle (or you’re good at muting strings) you can top this chord off with the open B string. Just be sure not to sound the G string!

Barring B Major

If these shapes look hard to you, then you probably need to work on your barre chords. The best way to do that is to practice barring regularly. You should resolve to barre for at least a few minutes every time you practice. Before long, you won’t break into a cold sweat whenever they come up. In fact, you’ll find that they’re incredibly useful shapes.

The reason barre chords are useful is that they’re moveable up and down the fretboard. So for every single shape you memorize, you’re learning 12 or more chords.

Once you know the root note of the shape (B on the 6th string for #3 and #5, B on the 5th string for #4), you’ll be able to slide up and down the fretboard using the same exact pattern. For instance, if you slide the the B Major #5 shape up one fret, you’ll be playing C major. Slide up another fret and you’re playing C# or Db. Slide up again and you’re playing D major on the tenth fret. Pretty cool, right?

I’ve written two other posts dedicated to conquering barre chords, both of which I highly recommend. You can find the first post  right here  and the second post  right here . Definitely check them out if you’re struggling with barring technique.

The B chord isn’t the easiest guitar chord out there. Like the F chord, I’m sure most of us have avoided it at some point. My hope is that you like at least one of these ways to play the B chord. And yet, even if you don’t, you can always find another way to fret it. That’s the beauty of the guitar grid. Good luck in the practice room! Are you looking to upgrade your gear or browse some awesome guitar learning materials? Check out  my recommendations page  to see all my favorite stuff.  Want to streamline your fingerstyle guitar progress? I just released my new ebook,  Fingerstyle Fitness , which presents 10 easy exercises to quickly develop your fingerstyle chops.  Grab it today!  

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CBSE 10th Standard Maths Subject Circles Case Study Questions With Solution 2021

By QB365 on 22 May, 2021

QB365 Provides the updated CASE Study Questions for Class 10 Maths, and also provide the detail solution for each and every case study questions . Case study questions are latest updated question pattern from NCERT, QB365 will helps to get  more marks in Exams

QB365 - Question Bank Software

10th Standard CBSE

Final Semester - June 2015

Case Study Questions

(ii) Which of the following is correct?

(iii) If DR = 7 cm and AD = 11 ern, then AP =

(iv) If O is the centre of the fountain, with \(\angle\) QCR = 60°, then \(\angle\) QOR

(v) Which of the following is correct?

(ii) Number of tangents that can be drawn on a circle is

(iii) Number of tangents that can be drawn to a circle from a point not on it, is

(iv) Number of secants that can be drawn to a circle from a point on it is

(v) A line that touches a circle at only one point is called

(ii) The value of BQ =

(iii) The value of PK =

(iv) The value of QY =

(v) Which of the following is true?

(iv) PT is a tangent to a circle with centre 0 and diameter = 40 cm. If PT = 21 cm, then OP =

(ii) If I is a tangent to the circle with centre 0 and line m is passing through 0 intersects the tangent I at point of contact, then

(iii) Number of tangents that can be drawn to a circle from a point inside it, is

(v) A parallelogram circumscribing a circle is called a

*****************************************

Cbse 10th standard maths subject circles case study questions with solution 2021 answer keys.

(i) (a) (ii) (d) (iii) (b) (iv) (a) (v) (c)

Here, AS = 5 cm, BT = 4 cm  [ \(\therefore\) Radii of circles] (i) (c): Since, radius at point of contact is perpendicular to tangent. \(\therefore\) By Pythagoras theorem, we have \(P A=\sqrt{P S^{2}+A S^{2}}=\sqrt{12^{2}+5^{2}}=\sqrt{169}=13 \mathrm{~cm}\) (ii) (b): Again by Pythagoras theorem, we have \(B Q=\sqrt{T Q^{2}+B T^{2}}=\sqrt{3^{2}+4^{2}}=\sqrt{25}=5 \mathrm{~cm}\) (iii) (d): PK = PA + AK = 13 + 5 = 18 cm (iv) (c): QY = BQ - BY = 5 - 4 = 1 cm (v) (c): PS 2 = PA 2 - AS 2 = PA 2 - AK 2 = (PA + AK)(PA - AK) = PK.PX [ \(\because\) AK = AX]

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20+ R&B Chord Progressions That Actually Sound Good

It’s no surprise that “neo-soul” guitar is becoming a buzz word in the online guitar community as R&B is a style of music that is here to stay.

Its timeless appeal started with Ray Charles, migrated to the guitar with Jimi Hendrix and others, and then found its way into hip-hop and modern R&B music.

This is because it combines many of the best elements of songwriting fundamentals as well as pretty chord progressions using voicings from the Jazz world.

Every guitarist who wants to improve their chord knowledge should delve into the 20 plus r&b chord progressions we’ve got in store for you right here. 

Table of Contents

I – III – (IV-III-bIII) – II In G major

(ii – v7) – (iii7 – vi7) – i7 in a major, 12 bar blues in f minor, i – i – v7 – v7 – i – i – iv – i – i in a major, iv7 – i7 in c# minor, i7 – ii7 – i7 – ii7 in f# minor, i7 – iv7 – vii7 – vi in c# minor, i – vi – iii – v in f major, i – vi – iv – (iv – #vii7) in c minor , i – iv in c major , (ivmaj7 – ii7) – (iii7 – vi) to (ii – ii – i6 – iv) in d major, imaj7 – v – bviimaj7 – iv in eb major, i – (iv – i) – (iii-vi) – (iv – v7) in bb major, i – i – vi – vi – iv – iv – v – v in d major, i – i – v – v – ii – ii – iv – v in c major, i – vi7 – i – vi7 – (vi7 – v) – ii7 – i in f major, i – (i – v) – iv – (iv – vii) in c#m minor, i – vi – vii – iii – i – iv – vii – vi – iii – vi – bii – bii – i – i in a minor, i – v7 – vi – ivdim7 in g# minor, i – (i – bii) in f minor, ii7 – ii7 – iv – iv – iii7 – iii7 – iii7 – (iii7 – vi7) in c major or d dorian.

“Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay” by Otis Redding is the first song we’re going to break down in this article as it’s one of the most famous around. The song is particularly famous because Otis recorded the vocals as a demo and didn’t have a chance to properly record a final version. He died only a few days after recording the version we now know. 

G – B – (C – B – Bb) – A are the chords you’ll get when you pick the chords according to the roman numerals above.

When we break down the chords in G major we’ll get the following: 

G major scale = G (W) A (W)  B (H) C (W) D (W) E (W) F# (H) – G

G chord (I) = G – B – D 

Am chord (ii) = A – C – E

Bm chord (iii) = B – D – F# 

C chord (IV) = C – E – G 

D chord (V) = D – F# – A 

Em chord (vi) = E – G – B

So the B, Bb, and A chords are not a part of the key. They’re what I call “foreign chords” as they don’t come from modal mixture or any similar major scales. The D# in B and the Bb root note in the Bb chord, for instance, don’t appear in the G major scale. 

This is one of the great things to keep in mind when you’re creating chord progressions as many of us work hard to understand major scales and chord progressions, but forget that we don’t have to stick closely to this concept. We’re free to choose chords outside of this or any key we’re playing in. 

The following progression is another one of the most famous progressions in R&B music from Earth, Wind, & Fire’s “September”:

(Bm7 – E9) – (C#m7 – F#m7) 3x then A13 

In this progression, the band is using what’s called a ii – V progression. This is a very common move in Jazz music and R&B music as in this case the Bm7 is a relative V chord to E. The relationship between I and V is the strongest in music as it establishes a key signature like A Major: 

A major scale = A – B – C# – D – E – F# – G#

A13 (I7) = A – C# – E – G – F#

Bm7 (ii7) = B – D – F# – A

C#m7 (iii7) = C# – E – G# – B

F#m7 (vi7) = F# – A – C# – E

So you can see that most of these chords, except A13, sit perfectly in the key of A major. A lot of times you can’t go wrong by taking the chords available in any major key and making some chord progressions. However, remember that you don’t always have to do that like we saw in the Otis Redding song before. 

To continue on the I-V concept, instead of going from E to A the ii-V is going from Bm to E. If we were in E major, the I-V would be E to B. See how similar they are? That’s what Jazz is using all of the time and what you can start using too. 

The iii7 – vi7 has a similar relationship as well because C#m is the relative v chord to F#m. 

This very long progression is a 12 bar blues in F minor from the song “Green Onions” by Booker T & The MGs:

(F5 – Ab5 – Bb5) 4x then (Bb5 – Db – Eb) 2x then (F5 – Ab5 – Bb5) 2x then (C – Eb – F) – (Bb5 – Db – Eb) to (F5 – Ab5 – Bb5) 2x

Booker T and The Mgs were the session band for Stax records in Memphis. Steve Cropper, the guitar player, actually co-wrote “Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay” with Otis Redding. All the guys would have a major hand in penning many of the songs at Stax that would top the charts. 

This song uses a very familiar chord progression from the Blues. Count the bars above and you’ll see that it adds up to 12 total. The blues part comes from the use of the I chord for the first 4 bars and later on, then the Bb chord for 2 bars and later too, and then finally the C chord for 1 bar. 

I – IV – I – V – IV – I – (blues turnaround) 

This is the format for many blues songs and why the term “12 Bar Blues” was termed. Most musicians should know what you mean when you say it’s a 12 bar blues in F minor. 

Let’s break down the F minor key so you can see where the IV and V chords come from, as well as the other chords in the mix: 

F minor scale: F – G – Ab – Bb – C – Db – Eb 

Fm (i) = F – Ab – C 

Bb (iv) = Bb – Db – F 

C (v) = C – Eb – G 

The chords are played as power chords because most blues songs won’t use the minor chords seen above that are diatonic to F minor. Playing power chords keeps the song more harmonically neutral without the darkness of minor or the brightness of major.

The next example is a chord progression from Ray Charles “I’ve Got A Woman” in A Major:

A6 – A6 – E7 – E7 – A6 – A6 – D7 – A6 – A6  

This one is very similar to the 12 bar blues format but not quite as strict to the formula. You’ll see that it goes to V (E7) before going to IV (D7) and back to A6. Although I’ve been knocking the tendency to stick with these 3 harmonies, there are plenty of ways to add variety to the progression. 

Notice also that the progression is using a D7 chord, which contains C natural and is not a part of the A major scale. Here it is again for reference: 

A6 (I) = A – C# – E – G – F#

E7 (ii7) = E – G# – B – D 

D7 (IV7) = D – F# – A – C

There will be many times when, like earlier, chromaticism won’t come from a parallel mode but this is not the case. The C natural in D7 does come from A minor, which is the parallel minor key to A major. 

This is a common use when creating chord progressions because the harmonies in A major and A minor overlap and don’t differ by many sharps. By sharps, I mean that A major has 3 sharps total (F#, C#, and G#) while A minor has none (all natural notes). 

The combination of C# (major 3rd) and C (minor 3rd to A) in particular is another use of blues/jazz harmony. Any time you see a chord using these intervals together in some way is a sign that the songwriter was going for this type of sound. 

This chord progression comes from “The Boy Is Mine” by Brandy & Monica and it’s in E major/C# minor: 

F#m9 – F#m9 – C#m9 – C#m9 

Here’s the scale and a few chords for reference: 

C# minor scale = C# – D# – E – F# – G# – A – B

C#m9 = C# – E – G# – B – D#

F#m9 = F# – A – C# – E – G#

As you can see, a m9 chord uses 5 chords and only leaves two notes left in the key to use. So just playing these two notes can imply the key signature very well. 

In R&B and many types of music, you will see lots of chord progression that just use one or two chords for a riff or a progression. It’s okay to do that whether the progression implies the key signature or not. 

Notice so far that you’ve seen m9s, 6s, a 13, and other voicings that will be used often in this genre.

This next chord progression is Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” in F# Minor:

F#m7 – G#m7/F# – F#m7 – G#m7/F#

F# minor is the relative minor to A major so you should be familiar with and understand the chords being used quite well. 

One thing to keep in mind with all of these chord progressions is that you must pay attention to what the “top voice” will be. The point of using so many voicings is to be able to have a different note act as the melody note. 

For instance, in this song the riff melody is going from F# – G# – A and back down. In the tab, I arranged the voicings so that we’re playing these notes on the high E string. 

The more conscious of this you become, the better you’ll get at choosing chords that reflect the sound of the melody and the progression. 

This chord progression is from Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely” in C# Minor:

C#m7 – F#9 – B11 – E 

This progression has been very popular amongst guitar players over the past several years as it fits well on the fretboard, and is a great framework for using tapping and percussion techniques. 

Notice that this one is also using Jazz voicings we mentioned earlier, but only uses 4 bars. So remember it’s okay to write short chord progressions if that’s what you want. 

This chord progression is Etta Jame’s “At Last” in F Major:

(F – Dm7) – (Gm7 – C7)  

This one is squarely in the key of F major and follows the patterns of many progressions that came out in the late 50s and early 60s. This is because using some combination of I, vi, and V was used a lot! Sometimes it would use IV instead of iii. 

If you use this formula, you’re guaranteed to get the sound of this time and place. 

This chord progression comes from “Say My Name” by Destiny’s Child in C Minor:

Cm – Ab – Fm – (Fm7/Bb – Bdim7) 

This progression is really neat because it 1) uses a bassline that goes from F down to Bb and then to B and 2) the use of the Bdim7. 

There’s lots of confusion about diminished chords but there’s an easy way to remember how to use it. Bdim7 contains many of the same notes as Bb7, which is the VII7 of C minor. 

Bdim7 = B – D – F – Ab

Bb7 = Bb – D – F – Ab

It can basically be used as a substitute for Bb7 and work anywhere that this chord can be used, which is in many places. 

This chord progression comes from “My Girl” verse progression in C Major: 

C – F 3x 

Remember the two chord vamps? This is one of the most basic but the most useful you can find in this genre. Part of the reason this always works great is because C is the relative V chord to F major, which will be the case with any I-IV progression in a major key. 

This very busy chord progression is from the chorus of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” in D major:

(Gmaj7 – Em9) – (F#m7 – Bm) 3x then (Esus4 – E – D/F# – G)  

Lots of chords here but just like always you should compare it to your knowledge of the key it’s in. Everything fits in the key of D major except for the E major chord. You’ve seen many of these voicings before and we’ve already talked about this key signature so you’ve got this. 

What’s important to keep in mind as to why this progression works so well is that it’s top voice stays in place pretty much the whole time. That’s why this song is so catchy!

This chord progression is from the 90s classic “Waterfalls” by TLC:  

Ebmaj7 – Bbadd9 – Dbmaj9 – Ab

Once again, many things you’ve seen so far, but one curveball. The Dbmaj9 is a bVII chord because the Db note doesn’t appear in the key of Eb major:

Eb major scale: Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb – C – D

Ebmaj7: Eb – G – Bb – D

Dbmaj9: Db – F – Ab – C – Eb

Fm7: F – Ab – C – Eb

Look closely and you’ll see that the Dbmaj9 has all the same notes as Fm7, which is diatonic to the key of Eb major. It’s why you’ll often see bVII chords in many R&B chord progressions. 

The next progression is the Supreme’s “You Can’t Hurry Love” in Bb Major:

Bb – (Eb – Bb) – (Dm – Gm) – (Eb – F7) 

So far you’ve gone through lots of progressions that have one harmony per bar, but this one has us using 2 chords per bar for 3 bars total. This can be a little more challenging to write for, or to solo over, but there are many rewards from learning how to arrange a progression like this one. 

As to where these chords came from, you can get them all from the key of Bb major: 

Bb major scale: Bb – C – D – Eb – F – G – A

Bb: Bb – D – F 

Dm: D – F – A 

Gm: G – Bb – D 

Eb: Eb – G – Bb

F7: F – A – C – Eb

The reason why we keep showing the breakdowns of the key and the chords is because a lot of the “secrets” to songwriting are right here. When you understand this, so many pieces of knowledge open up to you as a guitar player and a songwriter. 

This chord progression comes from “Please Mr. Postman” in D Major by The Marvelettes:

D – D – Bm – Bm – G – G – A – A 

When songwriting, you can also play a chord for more than one bar. As guitar players, we want the challenge of tricky chord changes played quickly after each other, but melodies often won’t work with this. 

A better idea is to take a few chords, and spread them out over 8 bars or more like this song does. 

This progression is “Can’t Help Myself” by The Four Tops in C Major: 

C – C – G – G – Dm – Dm – F – G 

Everything is right within the key of C major and uses the same ideas of spreading out the chords across a few bars. Use this example!

This progression is “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” by Stevie Wonder in F Major. 

F – Dm7 – F – (Dm7 – Cm/F) – Gm7/C – F   

Don’t be afraid to reuse the same chords either. This song does that with F and Dm7. 

What’s really interesting about this progression is the use of Cm/F because there’s no Eb in F major. Using a minor V chord or a minor IV chord are two great moves to use in all sorts of progressions and not just R&B. 

This more modern classic is Ginuwine’s “Pony” in C#m minor:

C#m – (C#m – G#m) – F#m – (F#m – B5) 

It’s a pretty simple melody that follows the scale of C#m minor to a T. When playing this progression yourself, you can avoid using the minor chord voicings as this won’t sound similar to the song. Powerchords will work! 

This progression is Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly With His Song” in A minor:

Am – F – G – C – Am – D – G – F – C – F – Bb – Bb – A – A 

What’s important to notice here is that the D chord, Bb chord, and A chords don’t belong to the key. The Bb works because F is the relative V chord, while D works because Am is the relative v chord to D. Remember that the V-I change is the most integral in all music. 

This is Justin Timberlake’s “Cry Me A River” in G# minor: 

G#m – D#7b9 – E – C#dim7

The 7b9 chord is used a lot in Jazz and works great as a V chord. The C#dim7 shows another great use of a dim7 chord as the G note (the diminished 5th) increases the need to resolve back to G#m. Add this to your knowledge of using dim7 chords!

We had to include Montell Jordan’s “This Is How We Do It” in F minor: 

Fm – (Fm – Gb) 

You saw the use of a bII chord earlier in Roberta Flack’s song, but this one doesn’t have the V-I relationship. The bII is a great way to bring the phrygian mode sound as the mode is based around the major chord at II. 

The final progression is “That’s What I Like” by Bruno Mars in D Dorian/C Major: 

Dm9 – Dm9 – F/G – F/G – Em7 – Em7 – Em7/A – (Em7/A – A9) 

This progression could be confused for being in D minor, but this is a mistake if you don’t see the lack of a Bb note: 

• D minor scale: D – E – F – G – A – Bb – C
• D dorian: D – E – F – G – A – B – C
• C major: C – D – E – F – G – A – B

Don’t worry if you didn’t catch this as the way modes are taught a lot is confusing. All you need to understand this progression is that the chords all come from C major/D dorian and not D minor/F major. It’s again why we need to study key signatures and chords as much as scales.

Loves studying classical piano, youtube video tabs, and music theory textbooks to get insights into guitar playing that no one else has uncovered yet. In his spare time, he can be found relaxing at the beach in San Diego, or adventuring somewhere around the world.

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How to play a B chord explained in three simple steps

It’s time to boost your knowledge about chords and add new skills to your toolbox. Gear up because today we’re going to teach you how to play a B chord in three simple steps.

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

In this blog about the B chord you’ll find

Introduction, step 1 – tune your guitar, step 2 – check out the b chord diagram, step 2a – the b chord diagram part ii, step 3 – position your fingers, step 3a – position your fingers part ii, step 4 (bonus) – theory behind the b chord, step 4a (bonus) – theory behind the b chord part ii.

• Step 5 (bonus) – The scale of B  

The B chord is a so-called barre chord. If you’re interested in basic barre chord theory, just check out our blog post on how to play 12 chords using one basic figure . If your fingers start to hurt, give yourself a break, read up on how to prevent painful fingers during guitar playing , and go at it again.

Back to today’s topic: How to play a B chord. The first thing you (always) have to do before starting any jam is tuning that axe because there’s nothing worse than an out-of-tune instrument. You can use a regular tuner or an application on your phone like KARANG . You can also check out our blog post on tips & tricks for tuning your guitar . Or just use our tuning video to tune your axe by ear.

So, let’s give you a hand in deciphering the diagram below. It’s important to know that the high e is the 1st string on your guitar. Pop quiz: If the high e is the 1st string, which one is the 5th? Yes, the A string. Now that this musical string theory’s out of the way, here’s another thing you should know. The numbers in the black circles on the chord diagram refer to the fingers that you’re using to play the B chord.

In the picture below, you can see how the numbers correspond to your fingers. Second pop quiz: What finger does the 1 (in the black area) refer to? Yup, that’s your index finger. And yes, in this case, it has to press down on all the strings from the A downwards. Simple right?

In the upper left-hand corner, you see another digit (not in a blackened area). This one stands for the fret that is at the top of the diagram. In this case, it’s a 1, which refers to the first fret. As you can see, the barre is positioned on the second fret. And you’re probably wondering what that little x means on top of the diagram. Well, that’s simple. An x means a muted string. The opposite of the x is the o, which stands for … well guess. Yes, strumming an open string.

To understand and remember the B chord better, take a look at the position of your second, third and fourth finger. Looks familiar, doesn’t it? Right, it is the same shape as the A chord , but located on the fourth fret. Do you recall from which string we start strumming the A chord? Exactly, from the 5th string. This isn’t any different for the B chord, only now we press the 5th string with a barre grip. So keep the A chord figure in mind, it will help you finding and playing the B chord on the correct string – the 5th string in our case.

Grab your guitar. It’s time to bring these written words to life. Start positioning your fingers as pointed out on the chord diagram. This means barring all strings from the 5th string down, on the second fret. 

The second step is simple. Place your middle finger, ring finger and pinky on the D, G and B string on the fourth fret, right next to each other. If you’ve never done this before, it will definitely feel like a weird acrobatic move. As you keep on practicing, this figure will start to feel more natural in time. Now give those strings a ring!

The second step if is even easier if you keep in mind the shape of the A chord. Imagine, that you’re building an A chord on the fourth fret by using your second, third, and fourth finger – your first finger is already busy with covering the barre. If you’ve never done this before, it will definitely feel like a weird acrobatic move.  Treat it like a stretching exercise for your fingers.

Finger this chord with your left hand (or right hand in case of left handed) again and again, until your fingers get used to the form. Here’s a tip: try helping the hand that has to press down the strings get into the right position by using your other hand. Once you get the hang of the figure just practice it over and over again without strumming the chord. The main focus is to strengthen your grip and finger flexibility.

Congratulations on your new skill! Now you’re officially capable of playing a B chord. It doesn’t matter if it sounds kind of crappy. Your fingers have to get used to the positions, which will get better in time and with practice. If you can’t wait to start practicing, go ahead and check out some songs written in the key of B . But if you’re curious about why you play this chord the way you just learned it, stick around and we’ll explain it to you.

Ahaa! Someone is still reading. Very well indeed. So, buckle up young Padawan because here is a crash course in basic chord theory.  The important elements of the chords are: root, third (the third note), and fifth (the fifth note). Our B chord consists of only these three notes.  That’s why we also refer to this chord as a B triad.

“Wait a minute! Three notes? But we’re strumming five strings, right?” Good question. Yes, we play five strings – five notes, but only three of them are different. On these five strings we play the root and the fifth twice. These repeat in different octaves. Therefore, the roots and the fifths have different pitches. You still with us? Good. Let’s dive a little bit deeper.

The root is the main note of the chord, it generates the symbol of the chord. We need to know the root to build up the triad. Usually in songs we start to play the certain chord from its root.  The third is responsible for the “mood” of the chord. So it can be a happy “major”, or a sad “minor”.  The fifth is the body of the chord. It is an important element to finish building a triad. The fifth brings “power” to our chord.

Step 5 (bonus) – The scale of B  

Are you still following this? You sure? Because if you’re not, no worries. It’s a crash course and the important thing is that you can play the B chord; which you already can so the rest of this blog post is a bonus. That said, here’s some more theory to make your head spin: The B chord is constructed from notes in the B scale. Let’s take a closer look at this scale: B (root), C# (second), D# (third), E (fourth), F# (fifth), G# (sixth), A# (seventh), B (octave). 

Simply put, we built our B chord, taking the root, third and fifth from the B scale. This is the skeleton of the B chord. Now we can add any other notes from the scale to this skeleton. For instance, we can add a second or a fourth to spice it up. Imagine how many interesting combinations we can get? Yup, a lot. Of course doing this requires you to know the B scale on the fretboard well. But this is the topic of a whole other article. For now focus on what you have learned about the B chord and enjoy. Happy jamming!

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How to Play the B Guitar Chord Properly + Beginner Tips

The B guitar chord is probably the hardest of all chords for beginner guitarists to play.

In this free lesson you will learn:

• How to play the B guitar chord correctly
• The best B chord for beginner guitarists to use
• A simple 3-string version of the B guitar chord
• 3 bonus tricks you can use to make your B chords sound better

How to play the B guitar chord properly

Ok, before we look at the easier alternatives let’s see how the B guitar chord should ideally be played (note that the full name of B is actually “B Major”, but most people just refer to it as “B”):

(If you don't understand the above image please read our article " How To Read Guitar Chordboxes In 60 Seconds ". It will make everything clear!)

Give it a try. As you will see it’s a challenging chord to play. 🙂

I’ve learnt through thousands of hours of teaching that the B guitar chord is simply out of reach for beginner guitarists. We need an alternative; a different version of B that you can use as a stepping stone to develop your finger dexterity and accuracy.

Mastering the B guitar chord – Two great versions for beginner guitarists

The first of these two chords is called “B7”. It look like this:

As you can see this is a much easier version of the B guitar chord, though it’s still a little tricky for total beginners because it requires 3 fingers. Stick with it! This is the best version of the B guitar chord for beginners to learn.

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Let’s look at a 2-finger version of the B guitar chord. (This is easier to play than B7 but doesn’t sound as good, so it doesn’t win my overall recommendation.)

This is a great version of the B guitar chord for beginners to use . Even though it doesn’t sound as good as a full B major chord, or as strong as a B7, it does contain the all-important B root note and is a passable B chord for absolute guitar beginners.

Once you have 10-15 hours of guitar playing under your belt you should look to ‘upgrade’ from Bm11 and play B7 instead.

The Best Easy Versions Of This Chord

A super-simple, 3-string version of the B guitar chord

This version of the B guitar chord sounds a little thin (it’s bound to, of course, as you’re only using half of the strings), but it’s still a valid B major chord and is ideal for children’s smaller hands and adults who are struggling to play the other versions of B.

QUICKTIP : You can find a great overview of the anatomy of the guitar in this Guardian piece .

A great version of the B guitar chord for acoustic players

This loose-sounding B guitar chord is called Bsus4 (which is short for “B suspended fourth”). It’s a wonderful chord for acoustic guitars and creates a light, free sound.

Common versions of B

Lots of barred chords here!

Here’s some more useful versions of B…

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CAGED system explained + 5 ways to use it

If you want to improve your guitar skills, it's crucial to have a firm grasp of the fretboard. But let's be honest, it seems like a big mess of notes at first.

Enter the CAGED system , which will help you make sense of the guitar fretboard in no time.

What is the CAGED system? 

The CAGED system is a method for guitar players to learn the fretboard and visualize chord shapes and scale patterns. The name comes from the five basic open-position chord shapes used to play any major or minor key: C, A, G, E, and D. 

The CAGED system is a valuable tool for both beginner and advanced guitarists since you can use it to:

• Play any scale or chord in any key.
• Help guitarists learn new chord voicings and scale patterns. 
• Transpose songs into different keys.
• Create new melodies and improvisations.

Understanding the CAGED system on the guitar can help you see the fretboard as a series of interconnected shapes and patterns rather than a mass of unrelated notes.

Here is a brief explainer video, but make sure to read the rest of the article as well.

What are the chords in CAGED?

If you ever see the CAGED system mentioned anywhere, they'll be speaking of the 5 basic chord shapes. 

The individual letters in the word CAGED refer to these chords:

C, A, G, E, D

This is the natural order of the chord shapes going up the fretboard, as you'll see on the diagram below (using C as the root note marked by the darker dot):

Now let's look at the 5 chord shapes of the CAGED system in detail.

C shape 

This is what the open C major chord shape looks like. It is a basic beginner chord that you will undoubtedly know already. Flet's form the chord, noticing where your fingers go.

Now if you use your index finger to barre the nut and move the chord up 2 semitones, you would get a D major chord in tonality, using the C shape from CAGED.

This is what the open A major chord shape looks like. You should be familiar with this one as well. There are a number of ways to finger this chord, this is my preferred one.

Just like with the C chord example above, if you move this entire shape up 2 frets and use your index finger to replace the nut, you will get a B major chord using the CAGED A major barre shape.

You should be familiar with the G major chord as well. This one is a bigger chord, so your fingers will be further apart. This is my preferred fingering, but you may use something else.

If you move this shape up the fretboard by 2 semitones, you will get an A major chord. As you can see, the G shape barre is difficult, but I'll talk about overcoming this later.

The E major chord is a favorite of most beginner students, since it is so easy to play. It is one of the first chords you probably learned as a beginner guitar player.

Now we'll only move this chord shape up 1 semitone, to arrive at the "dreaded" F major barre chord. Notice how you are forming the E major shape, adding your finger in place of the nut.

The D major chord shape is the final chord shape in the CAGED system. Again, the D major is a beginner chord that you learned at the beginning of your guitar journey.

Moving the entire shape up by 2 semitones, you'll arrive at an E major chord. You don't need to form a barre here, but it is still a difficult fingering that I will simplify later in the article.

These are the chord shapes used in the CAGED system. In review:

• You take your basic C, A, G, E, D chords
• Create movable chords out of them by altering your fingering somewhat, so that the initial open strings are held down.
• Now move the shape anywhere on the fretboard, and you get a valid chord X intervals away in tonality from the original open chord.

As you can see, some barre chords are easier than others. The "G" shape barre chord and the "D" shape barre chord can be a little awkward to play. I alter them a bit to make them more comfortable and create a slightly different sound, but more on that later.

What is the CAGED system used for in practice?

OK, this is all nice, but how can you actually use CAGED as a guitar player?

There are a number of ways, as you'll see below.

Connecting the CAGED system shapes

Taking this concept of moveable chord shapes and applying it to a single chord is the full usefulness of the CAGED system. 

The system maps out the fretboard in a logical way, because you can play any given chord all over the neck using the CAGED forms. Each shape connects to the previous.

• C  connects to A form
• A  connects to G form
• G  connects to E form
• E  connects to D form
• D  connects to C form, and the pattern repeats itself from here

Finding new guitar chord voicings via CAGED

By learning 5 chord shapes, you instantly know 5 voicings to any chord. Now you can use the new voicings, or just partial chords to vary things up and make your music more interesting.

For example, if you're bored of playing E Major in the first position, why not find the root note on the fifth string and use an "A" shape barre chord?

Or you can even take it a step further and use the top 3 strings as an inverted chord.

Just leave the lowest strings out of the chords, and modify your fingering to make it as comfortable as possible like so.

The same goes for every other chord as well. Just find the root note, and apply any shape. Each of the twelve major guitar chords can be played in their own position along the neck, using one of these five chord shapes.

The diagram below has the  root D (root notes are the black dots), so the graph shows all D major chord voicings across the fretboard!

But if you were to move everything over to the right by 2 frets, you would have the D note as your root, so you now have all voicings of the D major chord (The darker dots mark the D root).

Use CAGED to transpose songs

You can use CAGED to transpose songs. 

You first identify the song's key, find the corresponding CAGED chord shapes, and simply move everything up or down on the fretboard.

Tips on how to learn the CAGED system (with exercises)

If you want to unlock the fretboard once and for all, the CAGED system is a great way to go. Here are some specific exercises that will help you make CAGED, and thereby the fretboard, your own.

Learn the root notes of each shape

It is essential that you learn the root notes for each position once you know the CAGED chord shapes.

The C, A, and D shapes have 2 root notes, the E and G shape have 3 root notes. These anchor points help you quickly find the chords across the neck, if you learn to connect the shapes via their root notes.

Get to know the barre chord shapes 

In this basic CAGED system exercise, you need to play a C major chord using each barre shape from CAGED, moving higher and higher up the neck.

Please focus on the root note locations and how they are interconnected between each shape as visualized on this chart.

Once you reach the top chord and can't go any further, go back down the fretboard using the CAGED shapes in reverse this time.

Now form your standard A major chord , and using CAGED, play it in all shapes as you did with C major.

Do the same for the G major, A major, and D major .

Repeat this several times, every day for a week, and you should be good to go.

Sometimes less is more

If you remember from chord theory, you only need 3 notes to play a major chord. 

Thank GOD! I'm sure you noticed that the G and D barre chord shapes are a bit awkward.

You don't need to play the entire chord shape: 

The root, 3rd, and 5th are enough for a major chord.

You can find tons of chord inversions like this, where the root note is not the lowest note of your chord.

For example, here is the diagram of the C major using the G-shaped barre chord. It is impossible to play

But if you leave a few notes out, you can still use this G shape from CAGED to play the chord.

Remember, it is a proper major chord as long as you are using the root, 3rd, and 5th-degree notes of a chord. Here are 2 examples.

Now play the C major using the D shape from CAGED, without using the note from the D string.

This is a very popular inversion of any chord played using this 3-note D shape, and it is very easy to play anywhere on the fretboard.

Experiment with minor chords in CAGED

You can't play some minor chords fully in the CAGED system because of impossible fingerings, which means you will need to use chord inversions in these cases.

It is impossible to play the full Cm, Gm, and D minor shapes as movable chords. (Please leave a comment if you want me to make chord charts on these as well).

But as you've learned, you only need the root, minor 3rd, and 5th degree notes to play a minor chord . 

Like with the previous CAGED exercise, find suitable inversions for minor chords.

7th chords and other alterations

You should see how you can play any chord on the CAGED system by modifying the base open chord shape and moving it up the neck.

As we saw with the minor chord, you will not be able to play each note of every chord, but that is OK.

You can use chord inversions to play chords anywhere on the neck; just make sure you are using notes characteristic of your chord.

Find alternate chord voicings for your favorite songs

One way to find alternate guitar chord voicings for your favorite songs is to use the CAGED system:

• First identify the notes in the scale the song uses. 
• Then, find the chords played in the song in its respective key. For example, if you are using a G major scale, the notes in the scale are G, A, B, C, D, E, and F#. 
• By finding all of the possible chord voicings for each shape, you will be able to find many different ways to play your favorite songs.

The CAGED system is an excellent way for guitarists to learn the fretboard and understand how chords are related. 

It can help you see patterns and shapes that you wouldn't otherwise notice, making it an invaluable tool for learning new songs or improving your improvisational skills. 

Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned player, the CAGED system is worth checking out!

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21st Century Wildlife Monitoring – A Case Study of Spotted Owls and Artificial Intelligence

Wildlife monitoring programs, especially those with long-term datasets, are invaluable for informing forest management and conservation decisions in the face of climate change. But monitoring can be costly in terms of time, labor, and money. New technology is ushering in exciting possibilities that can help long-term monitoring programs evolve and benefit from next generation methods. Monitoring northern spotted owls provides an excellent case study.

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