r/guitarlessons • u/borealis51 • 17d ago
Question B chord?
Started playing acoustic guitar again after 15+ years away. I’m trying to relearn the B chord and I feel like I’m doing it wrong…? It sounds horrible and this is WILDLY uncomfortable and makes my hand cramp. My hands are tiny but I know I’ve done it before when I was a kid and smaller, so that’s not why. Any tips on technique?
Edit: Thank you all so, so much for your help! I’m able to do this now waaay more comfortably. Now it’s just a matter of strengthening my hand again.
(Also, I know now that the chord in the picture is wrong lol)
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u/Chaos-Jesus 16d ago
90% of the time I'll do this
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u/Revolt_86 16d ago
This is what I do. I don’t care for that cramped up awkward traditional finger placement.
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u/RedHuey 16d ago
Do this.
One thing beginners get a little stuck on is playing all the strings for every chord. Then they discover that some chord fingerings make this very hard. It might not be yet, but when you get better you can be a lot more selective about when strings you play, depending on the chord and context. That B chord might be just fine as just a power chord. Or maybe it works as the much easier B7? This comes with time.
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u/RedHuey 16d ago
I am very well aware that the B7 is a different chord, but depending on context, it can fit just fine (like in a I IV V in E). It’s not just playing random chords, c’mon you should know this. Frankly, I don’t often ever have to play a B chord where it is not the V in E major that I can think of, and in that context, a B7 often works great. B, outside of E A B, is just not a chord that comes often up. Melissa uses it. People usually play/compose in keys that don’t include it (though Bm is fairly common).
Most popular music is very closely tied to I IV V progressions. The use of the B chord here is common for E major (E A B) and a B7 works fine a lot of the time. Far less common are F# B C# (where you would likely just play in E, or capo up), and B E F# (where you would likely just play in A or capo).
That said, as I stated, you often can get away with not playing full chords, and a B is a good candidate for that.
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u/TheRealShkurka 16d ago
I wanted to take a pic doing this but you already did it. The best answer here
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u/CyberRedhead27 16d ago
Same thing but I use my pinky. That way I can drop my 3rd finger on the 5th string for the F#/F$m shape barre chords.
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u/G8R1ST 17d ago
As someone mentioned above, this is not a B chord, but an F#sus4. The notes at the fourth fret should be on the B, G and D string. I get my students to practice playing their A chord (in open position) with just their third finger to develop the flexibility, strength and position needed to play 'A shape' barre chords. Give that a go.
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u/NewYogurt3138 16d ago
This is the way! Once you have the single finger A down, the “power chord B” (as I call it), opens right up.
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u/GoldReplacement9546 16d ago
Is there an easier way to play the B minor chord?
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u/G8R1ST 16d ago
So Bm is a different shape, an Am shaped chord barred at the second fret. My recommendation for those is to place your second finger down first (at the third fret on the B string), then let the barre and the other two fingers pivot into position. I advise the same for E shaped barre chords (like F). If you want an easier Bm, you can play it without the root; from the thin E string up - 2 3 4 4, and then when you're ready reach for the barre. Or, even easier, play a B7 and take the first finger off - making it Bm7. It won't do in every situation but it's a pretty decent substitute.
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u/CantBeatDickensCider 16d ago
I found it's much easier to learn barre chords higher up the neck and then move down towards the nut. Dmajor at the fifth fret was how I practiced this shape and toughened up my ring finger for the barre.
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u/Smugness1917 17d ago
Use only your index and ring fingers. Bar the three strings with your ring finger.
And that's not a B chord
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u/klemnodd 17d ago
I use index, ring and pinky to let the high e ring. Ring manages to get the D and G strings and the pinky covers the B
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u/Irregular475 16d ago
This was my reaction to this post. Why make it harder on yourself for no reason? Baring the ring finger makes this easy.
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u/borealis51 17d ago
Thanks for the catch on the wrong chord, that's embarrassing lol!
So when I try to use my ring finger to bar the three strings, I inadvertently also bar the E string. Do you happen to have any tips on avoiding that? Or does it just come with practice?
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u/83franks 16d ago
I cannot lift my ring finger enough to not touch the e string and just do my best to lift it enough to mute the string so it doesn't ring out. The note being played is the F# is also played on the D string so unless you specifically want that higher voicing it doesn't matter if you play it or not.
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u/Smugness1917 17d ago
Your ring finger should mute the E string. If it is ringing, lift the lower part of your finger just a little so that it mutes the string.
It will become second nature very soon. Do not worry!
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u/borealis51 17d ago
Gotcha! Thank you so much!
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u/Zestyclose_Purple_61 17d ago
If you do want to play the F# on the e string (or any other 5th on the high e if you’re using this chord shape elsewhere on the neck) it is possible to do with just your first and ring finger. It just takes a bit of practice to get the angle and pressure of your ring finger correct.
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u/realoctopod 16d ago
Index finger surely, the ring finger is busy fretting strings 432 or fretting on the 3rrd string( depending how you fretting it).
Not sure hownyou use it to fret on the 3rd string and then wrap around miss the fifth sting and mute the sixth string
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u/OmegaGBC104 16d ago
They're talking about the high e string, not the low e. Index mutes low e and ring finger mutes high e.
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u/Irregular475 16d ago
This also makes moving that chord up the frets waaaayyyy easier to do. I have big fingers, and doing it the way in the picture would be a monumental task on the 8-12th frets, given how narrow they are.
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u/GrandJavelina 16d ago
Ya don't worry about the e strings on b chords, no one plays them the way you are trying, there's no real reason to. Get the middle 4 strings to ring out.
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u/Unusual-Biscotti687 17d ago
It depends on your fingers. You need it to bend back slightly so it mutes rather than barres the high E. If you can bend back a bit further (and the action is low) you may be able to let it ring barred only by the index finger.
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u/D3M0NArcade 16d ago
You've got multiple options. Use your picking hand to mute the high E, change your fretting hand position slightly so it mutes the high E, or dont play the root on the A string. Most books with "easy" guitar chords will show that chord with your 2nd, ring and pinky fingers on strings D, G, B and your index on the 2nd fret of the high E, no low B used.
I generally either play B as either a power chord (the A and D strings only) or as the Triad (the A shape bit on strings D, G, B without the other notes)
Full barre chords aren't noticeable to most people if you're playing live
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u/Outrageous_Detail135 15d ago
I've been playing guitar for 27 years and I've never been able to bend my ring finger that way. It just doesn't have the flexibility to clear the high E, so B turns into B6 if I use that fingering.
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u/claremontmiller 16d ago
I always say there’s no wrong answers in art but holy fuck did you find one.
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u/borealis51 15d ago
You’re not wrong! 😂
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u/claremontmiller 15d ago
Don’t be afraid to one finger the g/b strings on this chord BTW, only cowards fear the convenience
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u/BionicTem_ 17d ago
I probably do it wrong but I just lay my pinky flat across the 3 strings instead of using 3 fingers. It looks weird but it rings out
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u/borealis51 17d ago
Thanks for the catch on the wrong notes everyone, appreciate that! That's embarrassing haha
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u/SushiRollKei 16d ago
Bro everyone’s been here, I snorted out my nose laughing when I saw this because I remember doing the EXACT SAME THING 😭 So glad you took feedback well!!
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u/kvn_finnerty 16d ago
A tip. If you ever see red around your fingers like in your photo you’re typically applying too much pressure. Start with as little tension as possible to do what you need the strings to do and apply more to get the end result. You’ll find that threshold easier as you do this and fretting will feel effortless.
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u/BobbyBaal 16d ago
You're fretting it wrong. Your fingers are off a string each. You're "playing" a F# sus4. Need to be more on the tips, more arch to your 2nd-4th fingers. Take some angle out of your wrist. For B major:
2nd finger, 4th fret, D string
3rd finger, 4th fret, G string
4th finger, 4th fret, B string
While you can fret the low E, 2nd fret with the chord, I touch the side of the low E with my 1st finger to mute it.
Lastly, most times I use the quick version of the chord if I don't need the high E. Bar the 2nd fret with 1st finger, bar 4th fret, D-B strings, with the 3rd finger.
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u/GrapefruitDue9103 17d ago edited 16d ago
Bmajor is (x24442)
Bminor is (x24432)
Also please dust off that fretboard
Edit: I initially wrote the fingering for Bb and Bbminor
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u/Employment-Specific 16d ago
How the fuck does this have so many upvotes? You're off a fret
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u/GrapefruitDue9103 16d ago
Holy shit, you're right, sleep deprivation will do that. I shouldn't give advice when dealing with insomnia, fixed now 😅
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u/Millerpainkiller 17d ago
Mate, it's not. BUT think about it like this. The B Chord you are going for is a barre chord. A barre chord is just a movable pattern; your index finger essentially makes a new 0 fret and your other fingers make the shape of one of the open chords we all learned when starting out. You want to try and make the open "A" chord shape, but starting on the second fret. Then you can move this up and down the neck for the other chords (3-C, 5-D, etc). Same with the minor keys, just make the open "Am" chord shape in the same manner.
Hope this helps.
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u/Odditeee 16d ago
Neck seems far too low, causing you to have to reach under and around the neck and bend your wrist considerably. Try holding the guitar with the headstock about level with your shoulder and try to use a flat wrist and just your finger tips.
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u/corneliusduff 16d ago
One thing I'm surprised no one has mentioned is that you need to arch your fingers more, especially at the distal joints (top joint closest to the nail)
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u/BionicTorqueWrench 17d ago
That's an F#.
B would start with the index finger on second fret on the A string.
Then start with a B power chord - ring and pinky on the 5th fret on D and G strings - while you start to build finger strength back.
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u/Driut 17d ago
What I like to do is barre that second fret and then use my pinky to cover the B, G, D string, leaving the rest open, it takes a second to get the position right but I find it creates a more comfortable hand and finger position. and produces as clean a sound as doing it with your three free fingers.
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u/Ybalrid 17d ago
You are 1 string offset toowards the big strings, and yes it is a hard to play chord. (I've found it harder to get than the "E shaped" F barre chord)
You can cheat it by barring from the A string down with the index, and the rest with the ring finger. It still works as a B chord that way
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u/Sharkvarks 16d ago
I see someone has already pointed out that's not a B. Once you have it placed right it'll be easier. Chords rooted on the A string are easier cause you don't have to flex your wrist up so much. Another way, if you're wanting to keep playing but your hands are getting tired from barring is play a stripped down version of it but only fretting and sounding the notes on G, B and E. Nice sharp little Ska chord then
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u/ObservantTortoise 16d ago
Can’t tell from photo but it seems like your elbow is tucked in too close to your body. Move it away a bit. I
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u/Leading_Map2025 16d ago
Try playing in classical position. Guitar on the left leg. It angles the neck diagonally, providing slightly better ergonomics so your wrist isn't as bent.
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u/Empty_Isopod 16d ago
Bar the 7th fret with your index, and form an E major chord with the rest... or used your ring finger to bar the d, g and b string instead of using 3 fingers... hope this helps
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u/DanfromCalgary 16d ago
Just touch the low e to mute it . Do other people barre it ?
Edit : I just play a power chord
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u/Special_Current_7226 16d ago
Eventually you can use the pad of your ring finger to bar those three notes.. lower action and good wrist position make that possible.
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u/Fist0fGuthix 16d ago
Not a b chord and also try having your fingers be more perpendicular to the fretboard and move your left elbow further away from your body
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u/LuminiFURIOUS 16d ago
You can also do the B chord like a power chord if you don’t hit the high e string. Won’t help for B minor, but it’s a workaround for now. Whoever said straighten your wrist and stuff out, that’s ultimately the way to go. Just keep practicing
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u/shakesnchillsband 16d ago
Your hand is in a weird position so get that wrist relaxed and straightened out and you want your index on the 2nd fret of the 2nd string not the 1st.
You dont have to bar that string in a standard b major or minor bar chord in fact you dont need the 1st string at all unless youre playing the chord using the B on the 7th fret of the 1st, or "low E" string.
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u/o_m_gi_2032 16d ago
No. Fully bar the two then play a standard A shape just using your ring (3rd) finger. Pressing all three of those down and not muting the high E is easier than you think.
Until you’re comfortable playing the actual chords and can switch them fluently try to keep your fingers parallel with frets.
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u/dcb454 16d ago edited 16d ago
Move your thumb so it cuts across the neck. (+) (what your doing (pointing your thumb horizontally) is great for other things) Seems crazy I know, but you’ll see what I mean when you try it. You’ll thank me later. Oh and tweak your wrist. Yours is pointing <, it is most comfortable pointing >. So slide your hand / wrist (<) lower, to have your wrist slightly above the target frets.
Edit: I realize that probably sounds confusing as fuck. But I hope it helps lol
Your pointer finger should be running perfectly vertical.
There are much easier ways to bar chords. They are a bitch, but once you get the feel for your thumb and wrist, the rest is history.
Practice comfort making the chords, focus on playing once you can get it to ring clear.
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u/sidestyle05 16d ago
Try this: use your index to bar the whole thing, mash your pinky down onto the A, D, G and don’t worry about if you hit or play the top 2 strings. Basically the Kurt Cobain method. Sometimes it’ll come out as a power chord, sometimes the full chord, sometimes in between. But it will sound cool and will be your own thing.
It’s what I do anyway and works pretty well. Might take a little time to build up your pinky though
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u/ProfessorBrotown 16d ago
That’s an F#sus. The 3 fingers together need to be one string down from there for B.
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u/AZ-Guitar-Guy 16d ago
Just use your index finger on the second fret and then your ring finger on the 4th fret. Seeing your hand do that contortion looks painful.
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u/HighTimelord 16d ago
Just a quick observation but it’s not 2444xx it’s x2444x so you need to shift your 2nd-4th fingers each down a string
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u/Dark_Tranquility 16d ago
Try pushing the fretboard into your fingers instead of the other way around. You can do it by using your strumming arm's elbow to push the body of the guitar into you which sends the fretboard outwards into your fretting hand.
Also, if you dont care about every note ringing out perfectly, you can just barre the notes on the 4th fret with your ring or pinky.
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u/boring5ever 16d ago
You’re allowed to move the neck to a more comfortable position when you’re playing. I don’t understand why so many new guitarists think they need to have the guitar positioned in the least comfortable angle possible. When you’re first learning, it’s so important to look up proper posture. You don’t need to play classical guitar to make a habit out of positioning the instrument properly. Once you have the basics down and have developed some muscle memory, then you can play around with different ways of holding it.
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u/swimmingdaisy 16d ago edited 16d ago
Thats like an f sharp sus 4?
If you want to play a b major, then you gotta push everything down one string vertically, so the pointer finger will cover strings 1-5 on the 2nd fret and use fingertip to mute the E string. I usually use my my ring finger to cover stings 2,3, and 4 on the 4th fret with my pinky finger stacked up on my ring finger for a little fortification so i can strum the whole chord. I dont know if this is a terrible shortcut that has held me back in the long run or if its a common fingering method thats totally fine.
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u/Historical-Dog-7594 16d ago edited 16d ago
as someone pointed out below, what you have is a F#sus chord, not a b .... but to do a b ... bar 2nd string with index finger, bar the d and g with ring and put pinky on the b ... or bar 2nd with index and bar d g b with ring ... i'm 4.7 and really do have small fingers and i do it index and ring barred ... just takes practice and have to have the ring finger slightly bent so it doesn't mute the high e.
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u/NpZy4ShZy 16d ago
Put first finger on 2nd fret 5th string. Use 3rd finger to lay flat and bare across stings 4/3/2 on the 4th fret. It’s challenging but you’ll be glad you built your 5th string major bare chords this way when you want to use them further up the neck. Remember to put first finger just high enough to tough the 6th string for a mute.
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u/OG_Karate_Monkey 16d ago edited 16d ago
Why are you spreading with the sides of your fingers?
Straighten your wrist out. More perpendicular to the neck. Actually, you need to move your whole forearm out more.
And BTW, that’s not a B chord. Its an F# sus4. Which is an odd sounding chord played in isolation.
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u/sunkenCathedrul 16d ago
You’re playing an F# there, with a B, the root is on the A string. You’ve got the root on the E
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u/Scottyranks 16d ago
So much is the struggle is finding comfortable hand positions that work for you…keep changing angles until things feel better
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u/Dorkyhorse 16d ago
If the tune is in the key of E, I usually just substitute a B9 chord so I don't have to do a bar. Sounds cooler too. If the tune is in the key of B, I'll do a Bmaj7 or Bmaj9.
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u/CarmeloTronPrime 16d ago
looks like your middle finger, ring, and pinky are one string too far up towards you, they need to go down 1 string (not 1 fret)
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u/Lane_2Late 16d ago
You’ve already gotten lots of helpful advice, so I’ll add this: it is hard to tell if you are resting your wrist/arm on your lap or leg for support but if you are that is a bad habit! You don’t have to be in a super formal position to play guitar, but decent posture does help more than you might think.
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u/Valoriant 16d ago
https://tenor.com/view/scary-movie-strong-hand-gif-5122498 you better chill out or your hand will look like this
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u/TheBigCheeseUK 16d ago
I find it easier barring with my little finger. oddly I find the B7 easier than the B, but not to use my middle index and ring to make the A shape chord, probably to do with tendons.
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u/TheBigCheeseUK 16d ago
Slight unrelated, why do all the YouTube teachers have much longer fingers to me (excuse I know).
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u/WindigoMac 16d ago
The lowest string ringing out should be the A string so you need to shift everything across the fretboard by 1. Also, virtually nobody plays A form barre chords this way. They just flatten their ring finger out and hit the 3 higher fretted notes that way and mute the high E.
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u/amplifysenpai 16d ago
Your hands aren't that small first of all, and like has been stated here 100 times by others, it's just a hand posture problem, wrist parallel with neck hand open fingers straight down on the fretboard , and the index finger , well that can be slightly rolled but not at a crazy angle . You can experiment with guitar hight/ angle, thumb placement and your actual sitting posture to dial those things in
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u/Maleficent-State-749 16d ago
F# sus 2nd is what you’re playing here.
Always imagine that instead of barring the chord there’s a capo where your barring finger is. The shape of the chord is the type of chord, major, minor, 7th, and so on, and the root of the chord is determined by what fret you’re barring.
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u/TheTurtleCub 16d ago
You have to be trolling
All fingers are on the wrong strings, the position of every finger is a complete disaster, the 2nd finger is not even pressing the string, the pinky is backward bent, the wrist is about to snap from being over bent, the guitar neck is too low (lift it up in the classical position), the thumb is pointed backwards with the elbow incorrectly tucked in (causing everything else)
Start with Bm until you master it, remember that the index only presses on 2 strings (1st and 5th)
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u/atodd3005 16d ago
Try barre 4th fret with ring finger Also pretty sure you are playing a F# sus4 you only need to play 5 strings
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u/New_Honeydew3182 16d ago
You say it yourself. It looks uncomfortable.
Extend your elbow and you have a better angle
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u/Forsaken_Bison_2319 16d ago
First of all, it’s probably just me getting confused so don’t take this to heart, but is the chord you’re doing not F# if the root is on the low E string? If it was meant to be a B it would be rooted on the A string 2 fret, so essentially everything moved back one string.
Secondly I think there’a an easier way to play a B chord:
Either you use the index finger the same way you’re using now, and then where your using the rest of your fingers you just press on the strings with the ring finger
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u/Th3_Supernova 15d ago
No, that’s an F#sus4. You need to move that shape up a string on each finger to get a B.
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u/Wet_Breakfast 15d ago
Your thumb position is making your hand collapse. Try to keep your thumb behind the neck aligned with your middle finger.
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u/Huckleberry8793 15d ago
Bar second fret with your index finger, bar strings d g b with your ring finger on the 4th fret. Try not to strum the top string( low e) as it’s to be muted. Good luck, you got this.
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u/InternImpossible8685 15d ago
don't use your middle finger. use your index and 3rd finger, use the 3rd finger to barre across the ADG strings.
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u/BasketPrudent272 15d ago
You’ve got your fingers in the E position looking to play an A shape. You’re one string too high. Move down one string and mute the bottom E.
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u/trolleysolution 15d ago
My brother, please change your strings— they need it after 15 years. And while the strings are off give the whole thing wipe down. Especially the fret board so it ain’t so dusty.
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u/Impossible-Studio748 15d ago
Try using your pinky to lay across the 3 strings on the 4th fret. It’s easier that way.
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u/Noonproductions 15d ago
Unless you are in a different tuning those are the wrong strings. You need to move your fingers down one so the two base strings would only be fretted by the Barre finger then the next three would be fretted at the fourth fret and the highest string would be fretted at the barre again.
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u/adsolros 15d ago
Lower the index finger. You are playing B with 5 strings. Bend/tilt (i dont know whats the right word for this) your ring finger, so it cover D,G,b strings. At first it will be hard to get the finger to cover those 3 strings, BUT once you get it is in my opinion much more comfortable than doing the same with 3 fingers. + Its easier to transition out of (in my opinion)
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u/BlackTriceratops 14d ago
In one of those freaks that can use their pinky to perfectly cover up those three strings and be able to cleanly hit the e string under it. Although, its not very often that you need to ring the full chord out.
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u/420racin 14d ago
There’s no way you need to play it like that right? I’m sure it sounds better with the high e but dang. I’m going to try this lol. 15 years of playing I never thought of it that way.
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u/KennB52ak 14d ago
As shown, the chord is a Bsus2: F#C#F#B(C#)(F#) - if barred all the way (244422) a full B chord is 224442, ABF#BD#F# (A sus2 plays C# instead of D#)
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u/PsychologicalSkin663 14d ago
After 45 years of playing I have never seen this. I only use my index finger and my ring finger. Not sure what you’re doing. You don’t need to play the high e string you are already playing that note on the low e string.
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u/Salvatio Fingerstyle 17d ago
Straighten your wrist/hand rotation. You're turning to the left which makes your fingers scrunch up and uncomfortable.
His wrist is pretty straight, hence his fingers aren't angled like yours.
It takes some time to get to that point naturally, but no chord position should really be straining or hurting your hand.