B major chordson the Irish bouzouki, GDAE tuning
Main chords: B (I), E (IV), F♯ (V)
The scale: B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A♯
Drones: No open course is in the B chord in this tuning; E fits the key. The courses are G D A E, low to high.
Capo 4: play it with G major shapes, and every open course is in the key.
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
Hear them in the app ›Other modes on B
Other major keys
B major in other tunings
All Irish bouzouki GDAE chords · Printable chart (PDF) · The app