How to play a B major chord
Would you like to play a B major chord on the keyboard, but don’t know where it is? I’ll show you. The first note is B, the white key just after the group of three black keys. The second note is D#, the second black key of the next group of two. And the third note is F#, the first black key of the following group of three. This is the simplest form of a B major chord, the so-called root position.
I can play this root position anywhere on the keyboard. I can also play it lower with the left hand, and up here everything is possible too. These are all B major chords in root position. If we want to go a little further and play the chord differently, we can arrange the notes differently. This simply means that I take the lowest note and move it up an octave – and I get B major in the first inversion. Then the same principle again: I take the lowest note once more, move it up an octave and play it at the top – and I get B major in the second inversion. And if I apply the same principle once more…
Root position and inversions
…I am back at the root position. That is how I get the B major chord in different forms: root position and inversions. Again, I can spread these over the whole keyboard, and they are all B major. And now there is one more trick. I always teach holistically. Understanding is just as important as playing, comprehending, hearing and feeling – it all goes hand in hand, including reading music, of course. If I now simply name the notes as they are, I have a B, a D# and an F#.
Once you know where these notes – B, D# and F# – are on the keyboard, you can arrange them completely freely. For example, I can also play this B major chord like this. It is still a B major chord. I can play it like this, or like this, or like this – and finally like this. You notice that it always sounds a little different. But in terms of sound and character, it is still the same chord. And so the piano is no longer such a big mystery for you.
What are the right notes and how does it work?
Suddenly you have an overview when you are in B major. If I look at this B major chord in a wider context, I can say: this B major chord is the first degree in the key of B major. But at the same time it can also be the fifth degree of E major and the fourth degree of F# major. You can see which notes belong to B major in the B major scale.
Would you like to learn more about major chords and see more short piano tips like this? At Zapiano® you will regularly find short videos with tips and exercises for playing the piano. There is something for everyone – just as varied as our courses. And the best part: at Zapiano® you are never on your own. You can ask questions at any time and even upload a video of your playing once a month.