B Major Guitar Arpeggio
Guitar arpeggio — fretboard diagram
B Major Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: B, D#, F#
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 5P
Formula: 2W-WH
Number of notes: 3
Also known as: M, ^, , maj
The B Major arpeggio contains 3 notes (B, D#, F#). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
When to Use the B Major Arpeggio
Play the B Major arpeggio whenever a B Major chord appears in a progression. Unlike scales (which include passing tones), arpeggios guarantee every note you play IS a chord tone, making your solo sound harmonically precise and intentional.
Arpeggio vs. Scale
The B Major arpeggio uses 3 notes (B, D#, F#) while the full scale uses 7. The arpeggio is a subset — think of it as the skeleton of the scale. Practice alternating between the arpeggio and the full scale to develop a melodic vocabulary that mixes chord tones with passing tones.
How to Play B Major Arpeggio on Guitar
Root your B Major arpeggio at fret 7 on the 6th (low E), or alternatively at 2nd fret on the A string. With only 3 notes (B, D#, F#), this arpeggio spans wide intervals across the strings — sweep picking is an efficient way to move through it cleanly. Keep your pick angle consistent and let each note ring individually.
The B Major arpeggio outlines a B major chord and works perfectly over B, Bmaj7, B6 harmonies. It is a foundational arpeggio for soloing over major-key progressions and emphasizes the bright, resolved character of the major triad.
Practice Routine
Practice the B Major arpeggio in different octaves, starting low and working up. Then try displacing the octaves — play the root low, the D# an octave higher, and continue leaping. This trains your ear to hear the intervals (1P, 3M, 5P) in any register.
Guitar Tips
On guitar, practice the B Major arpeggio using string skipping — jump over a string between each note to create wider intervals. This technique produces a more pianistic, open sound compared to sweep picking and develops precise right-hand accuracy.
Related Resources
Explore B Major in Other Tunings
- B Major in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- B Major in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- B Major in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- B Major in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- B Major in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- B Major in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- B Major in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- B Major in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- B Major in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- B Major in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- B Major in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- B Major in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- B Major in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- B Major in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)