Most common
Barre at 2nd fret
The A shape barred at the second fret. Roll the index finger onto its side so the high E stays clear.
NotesB · D# · F#
Fret spanFrets 2–4
DifficultyHard
Best forAll players
B Chord on Guitar
Three ways to play B major: the A-shape barre at the second fret, the E-shape barre at the seventh, and a three-string version you can use while the barre is still coming together.
Often easier
Barre at 7th fret
The E shape at the seventh fret. The frets are narrower up here, so the stretch is smaller than at the second fret.
NotesB · D# · F#
Fret spanFrets 7–9
DifficultyHard
Best forFull sound without the stretch
No barre
Three-string B
The same three notes on the top three strings. Use it in songs while your barre strength is still building.
NotesB · D# · F#
Fret spanFrets 2–4
DifficultyModerate
Best forBeginners
Compare all 3 fingerings
Every card below is the printable file itself, at full size on the page. Choose the shape that fits your hand and the chord that comes next, then print or download it on its own.
What notes are in B major?
Chord tones
BD#F#
B is the root, D# is the major third, and F# is the perfect fifth. Every shape on this page sounds those notes and nothing else; only the order and the octave change.
Common keys
B majorE majorF# majorAb minor
B belongs to all four of these keys, which is why it turns up so often in songs that never mention it in the title.
About the B chord
B major has no open shape, which is why it stops so many players in their first year. The usual answer is the A-shape barre at the second fret, where the index finger covers five strings and three more fingers crowd into the fourth fret. It is genuinely hard early on. The three-string version is the honest workaround: it holds the same three notes, sits in a song without sounding wrong, and keeps you playing while the barre strength arrives. The E-shape barre at the seventh fret is often easier than the second-fret grip, because the frets are closer together further up the neck.
Find B in these printable sheets
Practise the chord in context, then take the blank sheets to write down the shapes a teacher shows you.
Blank Chord Chart Empty diagrams to fill in by hand, 6, 12 or 24 to a page. View sheet → Power Chords Chart Eight shapes, and the two movable ones that cover the whole neck. View sheet → Printable Chord Chart Every sheet on the site as a PDF, ready for A4 or US Letter. View sheet → Pentatonic Scale Chart The five box shapes in any key, with the frets you actually play. View sheet → Guitar Scales Chart Five scales across the whole neck, roots marked, in any key. View sheet →
Learn these next
The other chords with more than one shape worth knowing.
Frequently asked questions
Which B fingering should a beginner use?
Three-string B. The same three notes on the top three strings. Use it in songs while your barre strength is still building. Once it lands cleanly every time, the other shapes on this page are worth adding, because each one buys you something different.
Why are there several ways to play the same chord?
They contain the same notes, B, D#, F#, but they put your hand in different places. Which one is right depends on the chord you are moving to next and on how much of the neck the song uses, not on which one is "correct".
Is the B barre shape worth learning?
Yes, because it moves. The E shape at the seventh fret. The frets are narrower up here, so the stretch is smaller than at the second fret. The grip costs more up front and then keeps paying for itself in every key.
Which strings do I strum for B?
Leave the low E string out and start the strum from the A string. The X above the nut marks every string that stays silent.
Can I print just one shape?
Yes. Each shape has its own Print button and its own printable card, so you can put a single fingering on the wall instead of the whole page. The PNG download is the same image at 1000 × 1500, sized for a phone or a Pinterest board.