B Ukulele Chord
Want to play the B chord on your ukulele? It is a barre shape, which feels awkward at first but is well worth learning.
A three-finger shape. Here is how to play B, step by step.
- Notes: B, Eb and Gb
- Frets: 4 3 2 2
- Tuning: g C E A
B chord details
- Type
- Major triad
- Also known as
- B major
- Formula
- 1 3 5
- Intervals
- B (root), Eb (major 3rd), Gb (perfect 5th)
- Notes
- B, Eb and Gb
- Frets
- 4 3 2 2
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Tuning
- Standard (g C E A)
How to play the B chord
Here is the B chord step by step:
- Put your ring finger on the 4th fret of the g string.
- Put your middle finger on the 3rd fret of the C string.
- Lay your index finger flat across the E and A strings at the 2nd fret, a small barre.
- Strum all four strings.
Roll your index finger slightly onto its bony side so it presses every string evenly. Read how to play bar chords if it keeps buzzing. New to these grids? Have a look at how to read a ukulele chord diagram.
What notes are in the B chord?
The B chord is built from three notes: B, Eb and Gb (the root, major 3rd and perfect 5th). On the ukulele the B is doubled, so you get a nice full sound. Major chords are the bright, happy ones, which is why so many singalong songs are built on them. Curious which chords sit together in a song? See which chords share a key.
Want to go further?
Once B feels comfortable, its close relatives are worth exploring: try B7, Bmaj7, Bm and Bsus4. B pairs most often with E, Gb and Abm, so the few basic chords next to it go a long way. Then put it into a strumming pattern. When you are ready, try some easy ukulele songs.
That is the B chord. I hope this helped you get it ringing cleanly. Keep on practicing and enjoy! Feel free to contact me whenever you need more information about ukulele chords. Good luck and have fun!