B major chords, relative minor and Camelot code (1B)
B major has 5 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯). Its chords are B, C♯m, D♯m, E, F♯, G♯m and A♯°. The relative minor is G♯ minor and the Camelot code is 1B, so it mixes cleanly with 12B, 2B and 1A.
Notes in the B major scale
B major has 5 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯).
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B | C♯ | D♯ | E | F♯ | G♯ | A♯ |
Chords in B major
Stack every other note of the scale on each degree and you get the seven chords that belong to the key:
| Degree | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| I | B | B · D♯ · F♯ |
| ii | C♯m | C♯ · E · G♯ |
| iii | D♯m | D♯ · F♯ · A♯ |
| IV | E | E · G♯ · B |
| V | F♯ | F♯ · A♯ · C♯ |
| vi | G♯m | G♯ · B · D♯ |
| vii° | A♯° | A♯ · C♯ · E |
Common progressions in B major
- B – F♯ – G♯m – E (I–V–vi–IV): the most used pop progression of the last forty years.
- B – G♯m – E – F♯ (I–vi–IV–V): the 1950s doo-wop turnaround.
- C♯m – F♯ – B (ii–V–I): the jazz cadence.
- G♯m – E – B – F♯ (vi–IV–I–V): the same four chords as I–V–vi–IV, started on the minor chord for a darker feel.
Keys that mix with B major
B major is 1B on the Camelot wheel. For a clean blend, go to a key next to it:
| Camelot | Key | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| 12B | E major | One step round the wheel: shares six of its seven notes |
| 2B | F♯ major | One step the other way: also shares six of seven notes |
| 1A | G♯ minor | The relative minor: exactly the same notes |
How the wheel works is in the Camelot wheel explained, and how to use it in a set is in harmonic mixing for DJs.
Relative and parallel keys
The relative minor, G♯ minor, uses exactly the same notes with a different home chord. The parallel minor, B minor, keeps B as home but changes three notes. More on the difference in relative major and minor keys.
Questions people ask
What chords are in B major?
B (I), C♯m (ii), D♯m (iii), E (IV), F♯ (V), G♯m (vi) and A♯° (vii°).
What is the relative minor of B major?
G♯ minor. It uses the same 7 notes, B, C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯, A♯, but centres on G♯ instead of B.
What is the Camelot code for B major?
1B. In Open Key notation it is 6d.
What keys mix well with B major?
E major (12B), F♯ major (2B) and G♯ minor (1A). They sit next to 1B on the Camelot wheel.
How many sharps or flats does B major have?
5 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯).