B Guitar Chord | 4 Easy Ways to Play (with Charts)
B Major Guitar Chord (4 Easy Ways To Play with Charts)
B Major is a tricky enough chord to play on instruments like the piano, so it makes sense that attempting it on the guitar would be challenging as well. Thankfully, there are some simpler alternatives to make playing B Major easier, along with variations to give this chord a different sound. Let's jump right in and take a look at the most pertinent voicings you'll need to know.
How to Play B Major Guitar Chord
For starters, one of the first methods for playing B Major in open position most guitarists learns goes a little something like this:
Place your 1st finger on the 1st string/2nd fret
Place your 2nd finger on the 4th string/4th fret
Place your 3rd finger on the 3rd string/4th fret
Place your 4th finger on the 2nd string/4th fret
Mute strings 5 and 6
Coaxing your fingers into this position can be a bit trickier, but that's just one reason to look for an alternative to this voicing.
If you look carefully at the notes you're playing, you'll see that you're playing "F#" twice, and there's only one "B" sandwiched between those notes.
B Guitar Chord (Lowest Note)
A voicing where "B" is the lowest note you'll play and is repeated among your notes packs way more punch:
Place your 1st finger on the 5th string 2nd fret
Place your 2nd finger on the 4th string/4th fret
Place your 3rd finger on the 3rd string/3rd fret
Place your 4th finger on the 2nd string/4th fret
Mute strings 1 and 6
B Guitar Chord (Barre)
Muting your outside strings will post a challenge, but the sound of this B Major voicing is preferable to the previous one we covered in many cases. If you've got the strength for it, you could try a barre chord version of B Major up on the 2nd fret:
Use your 1st finger to bar the chords at the 2nd fret
Place your 2nd finger on the 4th string/4th fret
Place your 3rd finger on the 3rd string/4th fret
Place your 4th finger on the 2nd string/4th fret
Mute string 6
B Guitar Chord (Major #2)
The barre is the go-to if you need something quick and simple. Once you start heading further up the fretboard, playing B Major becomes an even trickier prospect:
Place your 1st finger on the 5th string/6th fret
Place your 2nd finger on the 6th string/7th fret
Place your 3rd finger on the 2nd string/7th fret
Mute strings 1, 3, and 4
Work at Getting Better
And so it goes. Be sure to check out more equally challenging voicings on the 4th, 7th, and 9th frets. For now, though, these variations should be enough to get your started. B Major requires you to make some interesting fingerings, so start by building your strength and dexterity, then have at it. As always, good luck, and happy practicing!