B major chordson the Irish bouzouki, GDAD tuning

Common progressions

• I – IV – I – V: B – E – B – F♯ (a plain backing for many reels and jigs)
• I – V – I: B – F♯ – B (polkas and simple tunes)
• I – vi – IV – V: B – G♯m – E – F♯ (a B part that wanders, or a song)

Basis: DADGAD Guitar blog (2009), the Chiff & Fipple forum, and common session practice: most major-key tunes use I, IV and V; vi now and then.

The seven chords in B major

1. I B4 4 6 4
2. ii C♯m6 6 7 6
3. iii D♯m3 4 6 4
4. IV E1 2 2 2
5. V F♯3 4 4 4
6. vi G♯m1 1 2 1
7. vii° A♯dim3 2 4 2

Other modes on B

Other major keys

B major in other tunings

All Irish bouzouki GDAD chords · Printable chart (PDF) · The app