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Bass chord companion

B Major Chord

Learn the B Major chord on bass with chord tones, intervals, playable arpeggios, and fretboard maps.

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1B3D#5F#

Bass chord tones and arpeggios

Play these tones one at a time to outline the chord. The maps show the complete formula; the numbered exercises give an ascending path, including extensions in their written octave.

Standard four-string bass: E1 – A1 – D2 – G2. String 4 is low E; string 1 is high G. Fingers 1–4 are index through little finger; 0 is open. Use comfortable hand positions and shift where indicated.

Root on E string

B Major complete chord-tone map around string 4, fret 7. Choose individual tones for a bass line.

B Major Root on E string bass chord-tone mapB Major complete chord-tone map around string 4, fret 7. Choose individual tones for a bass line.EADG67891013513

Ascending arpeggio

Follow steps 1–3 below. Keep one hand position.

B Major Root on E string numbered bass arpeggioAscending complete formula: B1, D#2, F#2. Play one numbered note at a time.EADG6789123
StepDegreeNoteString / fretFingerPosition
11B14 / 72Fret 6
23D#23 / 61Fret 6
35F#23 / 94Fret 6

Root on A string

B Major complete chord-tone map around string 3, fret 2. Choose individual tones for a bass line.

B Major Root on A string bass chord-tone mapB Major complete chord-tone map around string 3, fret 2. Choose individual tones for a bass line.EADG1234551351

Ascending arpeggio

Follow steps 1–3 below. Keep one hand position.

B Major Root on A string numbered bass arpeggioAscending complete formula: B1, D#2, F#2. Play one numbered note at a time.EADG1234123
StepDegreeNoteString / fretFingerPosition
11B13 / 22Fret 1
23D#22 / 11Fret 1
35F#22 / 44Fret 1

Full fretboard map

Every B Major Chord chord tone across the neck, with roots highlighted for quick orientation.

Interactive

Frets 0–24. Select a position or tap a note to hear it.

GDAEF#BD#F#BD#BD#F#BD#F#D#F#BD#F#BBD#F#BD#F#123456789101112131415161718192021222324

Progression examples using B Major

Try these progressions to hear the harmony in context. On bass, outline each chord with individual target tones.

Chord Tones

DegreeIntervalNote
1RootB
3M3D#
5P5F#

Complete Formula

1 – 3 – 5

Compound degrees retain their names: 9, 11, and 13 are extensions. A voicing may place their pitches in a closer register.

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