B Major Scale, Chords & Songs
B major has 5 sharps — one of the more challenging keys for piano. Rarely the original key for pop songs but sometimes used for transposed vocal arrangements when the singer prefers a brighter key.
SHOW ME HOW YOU BURLESQUE, Christina Aguilera
B
SHOW ME HOW YOU BURLESQUE
Christina Aguilera
Medium B · ♩=45· 1 chord
HIPS DON'T LIE, Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean
B
HIPS DON'T LIE
Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean
Medium B · ♩=90· 5 chords
The B Major scale
The B Major scale contains seven notes: B – C# – D# – E – F# – G# – A#. Key signature: 5 sharps.
All notes in the B Major scale highlighted on the keyboard.
Diatonic chords in B Major
These seven chords are built on each scale degree. They're the natural chord palette for songs in B Major — most pop progressions like I-V-vi-IV use only these.
| Roman | Chord | Quality | Open |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | B | Major | Learn B → |
| ii | C#m | Minor | Learn C#m → |
| iii | D#m | Minor | Learn D#m → |
| IV | E | Major | Learn E → |
| V | F# | Major | Learn F# → |
| vi | G#m | Minor | Learn G#m → |
| vii° | A#dim | Diminished | Learn A#dim → |
Quick facts
- Key signature
- 5 sharps
- Relative minor
- G♯ minor
- Difficulty on piano
- Advanced — 5 sharps, demanding fingering.
- Songs in our catalog
- Available in this key