Chords › B5
B5 Power Chord on Guitar
- B5
- B · F♯
- From fret 4
Movable, fret 4
B5 is a power chord: just the root and the fifth, with no third, so it is neither major nor minor and stays clear under distortion. B5 has no open shape, so it is usually played as a 3-string shape from the 4th fret.
How to play B5, finger by finger
- Put your index finger on string 3 at the 4th fret.
- Put your ring finger on string 2 at the 7th fret.
- Put your pinky finger on string 1 at the 7th fret.
- Strum from string 3 down to string 1, and don't play strings 6, 5 and 4.
More ways to play B5
Notes in B5
| Note | Interval | Role |
|---|---|---|
| B | 1 | root |
| F♯ | 5 | fifth |
Formula: 1 – 5
Questions about B5
What notes are in B5?
B and F♯. Those are the 1, 5 of the chord, counted from B.
Which strings do I strum for B5?
Start on string 3 and strum down to string 1.
Is B5 major or minor?
Neither. A power chord has only the root and the fifth (B and F♯), so it fits songs in B major and B minor alike. It is the standard chord for rock and metal rhythm guitar.
Related chords
Often played with B5
Other power chords