B 6-string bass chord

How to play B on 6-string bass

The most common way, the first shape above: your ring finger on the E string at the 2nd fret, your little finger on the A string at the 2nd fret and your index finger on the D string at the 1st fret. Let the B string ring open. Don’t play the G and C strings.

From the B string 0 2 2 1 x x (x: not played, 0: open)

What notes are in B?

B, B major, is B, D♯ and F♯: the root (B), the major third (D♯) and the perfect fifth (F♯). Its formula is 1 3 5.

What is the difference between B and Bm?

One note. B has the major third, D♯; Bm lowers it a half step to D. That one note turns the bright sound of a major chord into the darker sound of a minor one.

Can I play B5 instead?

B5, the power chord, is B and F♯ with no third, so it is neither major nor minor. It stands in for B in rock, especially with distortion, where a full chord can sound muddy.

Keys with B

B is the V chord in E major, the IV chord in F♯ major, the I chord in B major, the VII chord in C♯ minor, the VI chord in E♭ minor and the III chord in G♯ minor, and the V of E minor, the major fifth chord from its harmonic minor scale.