Banjo B chord (Open G)B major on the 5-string banjo: 4 4 4 4, and 3 more shapes

Frets, string 4 to string 1: 4 4 4 4 (first position)

1. String 4 (D): 4th fret, index finger (barre), F♯
2. String 3 (G): 4th fret, index finger (barre), B
3. String 2 (B): 4th fret, index finger (barre), D♯
4. String 1 (D): 4th fret, index finger (barre), F♯
5. String 5, the short g: open, G, not in the chord

Sounds: F♯ B D♯ F♯  ·  B is B, D♯, F♯ (1 · 3 · 5)

Found in: B major (I), B mixolydian (I), E major (V), F♯ major (IV), F♯ mixolydian (IV), D♭ mixolydian (♭VII)

The 5th string: the short g rubs against the F♯ in this shape, a semitone away: some players let it ring, some skip it.

Up the neck: F shape: 9 8 7 9 (7fr); D shape: 13 11 12 13 (11fr). Slide a shape up or down to play another chord of its kind.

With a capo: on the 4th fret it’s 0 0 0 0 (frets counted from the capo), an open G shape. Spike the 5th string at the 9th fret to keep it in tune with the capo.

Open G tuning: gDGBD, the short 5th string first, then strings 4 to 1.