Chords in the key of B major
The key of B major has seven diatonic chords: B, C#mC#mC#mC#m, D#mD#mD#mD#m, E, F#, G#mG#mG#mG#m and A#°. As sevenths: Bmaj7Bmaj7Bmaj7Bmaj7, C#m7C#m7C#m7C#m7, D#m7D#m7D#m7D#m7, Emaj7Emaj7Emaj7Emaj7, F#7F#7F#7F#7, G#m7G#m7G#m7G#m7 and A#m7b5. They come from the B major scale, B, C#, D#, E, F#, G# and A#, one on each note.
The table shows each chord in two versions: the triad (the three-note chord) and the seventh chord (the same chord with a fourth note, the seventh, that enriches it).
Notes: B – C# – D# – E – F# – G# – A#| Degree | Triad | Seventh | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | BBBB | Bmaj7Bmaj7Bmaj7Bmaj7 | tonic |
| ii | C#mC#mC#mC#m | C#m7C#m7C#m7C#m7 | subdominant |
| iii | D#mD#mD#mD#m | D#m7D#m7D#m7D#m7 | tonic |
| IV | EEEE | Emaj7Emaj7Emaj7Emaj7 | subdominant |
| V | F#F#F#F# | F#7F#7F#7F#7 | dominant |
| vi | G#mG#mG#mG#m | G#m7G#m7G#m7G#m7 | tonic |
| vii° | A#° | A#m7b5 | dominant |
The roman numerals mark the chord's position in the scale: I is the first degree, V the fifth. Uppercase = major chord; lowercase = minor; ° = diminished.
Tonic chords stabilize and rest; subdominant chords prepare motion; dominant chords build the tension that asks for resolution.