What is the relative minor of B major?

G# minor — same five-sharp key signature.

What are the chords in the key of B major?

B major (I), C# minor (ii), D# minor (iii), E major (IV), F# major (V), G# minor (vi), and A# diminished (vii°).

Key of B major — notes, key signature, and chords

B major has five sharps — F#, C#, G#, D#, and A# — and sits five clockwise steps from C on the circle of fifths. It's a less common written key (most tonally adjacent music is notated in C♭ major or modulates through related keys instead), but it appears regularly in vocal music transposed for range and in jazz tunes.

Key signature

5sharps

1.F#
2.C#
3.G#
4.D#
5.A#

Added in the standard order of sharps.

Diatonic chords

The seven triads built on each scale degree. These are the chords you hear used most in B major:

Roman	Chord	Quality	Notes
I	B	major	B · D# · F#
ii	C#m	minor	C# · E · G#
iii	D#m	minor	D# · F# · A#
IV	E	major	E · G# · B
V	F#	major	F# · A# · C#
vi	G#m	minor	G# · B · D#
vii°	A#°	diminished	A# · C# · E

Common progressions

I–IV–V in B is B–E–F#. I–V–vi–IV is B–F#–G#m–E. The five sharps make sight-reading busy, which is one reason composers sometimes prefer the enharmonic C♭ major (seven flats — also visually busy, but with a different feel).

Relative minor

The relative minor of B major is G# minor — it shares the same key signature, just centred on the 6th degree of the B major scale (G#). A piece can move between B major and G# minor freely without any change of accidentals.

Common mistakes

Five sharps is a lot to track at sight — the easiest slip is missing the A# (the leading tone). The relative minor of B major is G# minor, which also has five sharps. Don't confuse B major with B♭ major, which has two flats and a very different signature.

Drill it

The Circle of Fifths trainer drills every key signature — B major included — with timed flash cards and best-time tracking.

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Frequently asked

How many sharps does B major have?: B major has five sharps: F#, C#, G#, D#, and A#.
What are the notes in the B major scale?: B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A#.
What is the relative minor of B major?: G# minor — same five-sharp key signature.
What are the chords in the key of B major?: B major (I), C# minor (ii), D# minor (iii), E major (IV), F# major (V), G# minor (vi), and A# diminished (vii°).