Mandolin B chordB major: 4 1 2 2, and 3 more shapes
Frets, low course to high: 4 1 2 2 (open position)
- G course: 4th fret, little finger, B
- D course: 1st fret, index finger, D♯
- A course: 2nd fret, middle finger, B
- E course: 2nd fret, ring finger, F♯
Sounds: B D♯ B F♯ · B is B, D♯, F♯ (1 · 3 · 5)
Found in: E major (V), B major (I), B mixolydian (I), F♯ major (IV), F♯ mixolydian (IV), D♭ mixolydian (♭VII)
No 3rd: B5 (4 4 2 2) leaves the 3rd out, so it backs B major, mixolydian, dorian and minor tunes alike.
Tuning GDAE: G D A E, low to high.
The link can’t set the tuning: the app starts on the Irish bouzouki in GDAD. Choose Mandolin once in its Settings and it remembers.
More B shapes
- 4 4 6 7
4fr - 8 9 9 7
7fr · B/D# - 11 9 9 11
9fr · B/F#
B in session keys
- E major (V, a main chord): E – A – E – B (a plain backing for many reels and jigs)
- B major (I, a main chord): B – E – B – F♯ (a plain backing for many reels and jigs)
- B mixolydian (I, a main chord): B – A – B
Other B chords, Mandolin GDAE
Other major chords
B in other tunings
All Mandolin GDAE chords · Printable chart (PDF) · Tuning · The app