B5 Chord on Guitar
Notes B F♯. Start with B5 (x 2 4 4 x x): index on string 5 fret 2, ring and pinky on strings 4 and 3 at fret 4.
Chord · B5 power chord
Power chord, root on string 5 (fret 2) · x 2 4 4 x x
movable, no open strings
Power chord, root on string 6 (fret 7) · 7 9 9 x x x
movable, no open strings
Power chord, root on string 4 (fret 9) · x x 9 11 12 x
movable, no open strings
1 B5 F♯
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): index (1), fret 2
- String 4 (D): ring (3), fret 4
- String 3 (G): pinky (4), fret 4
- String 2 (B): muted, do not play
- String 1 (high e): muted, do not play
- String 6 (low E): index (1), fret 7
- String 5 (A): ring (3), fret 9
- String 4 (D): pinky (4), fret 9
- String 3 (G): muted, do not play
- String 2 (B): muted, do not play
- String 1 (high e): muted, do not play
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): muted, do not play
- String 4 (D): index (1), fret 9
- String 3 (G): ring (3), fret 11
- String 2 (B): pinky (4), fret 12
- String 1 (high e): muted, do not play
Notes and formula
| Degree | Note | Interval from B |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | root |
| 5 | F♯ | perfect 5th |
Formula 1 5 (power chord).
More on this chord type: Power chords
Keys that contain B5
| Key | B5 is the |
|---|---|
| B major | I5 |
| B minor | I5 |
| E major | V5 |
| F♯ major | IV5 |
| F♯ minor | IV5 |
| G♯ minor | III5 |
| C♯ minor | VII5 |
Minor keys here use the natural minor scale.
Playing B5: what goes wrong
No barre needed
Full B major needs a barre. B5 has only B and F♯ (and a higher B): three strings, three fingers, no barre. It is a common stand-in for B in rock.
Neither major nor minor
B5 has no D♯ or D, so it is neither major nor minor and works under both B and Bm.
B5 in a key
B5 is I5 in B, IV5 in F♯ and V5 in E. The same shape on string 6 is 7 9 9 x x x.
Related chords
Learn and practise B5
- Metronomepractise the change to B5 at 60 BPM
- How to read chord chartsstrings, frets, fingers, x and o
- Chord finder (chord namer)name any other shape you find
FAQ
What notes are in B5?
B, F♯: the 1, 5 of the B5 power chord.
Is B5 easier than B?
Yes. B5 is three strings and no barre, while B major is a four-string or five-string barre. B5 is just B and F♯ without the D♯.