A root-fifth chord, also known as a power chord is the simplest way to play a B Chord on the guitar. The 5th String gives you the root note for each subsequent chord in power chord progressions.

We begin by identifying the note B on the 5th string which is found on the second fret. Using basic music theory we walk up the scale on the A String (5th String) moving past A# on the 1st fret to the B on the 2nd fret.

Lucky for us we will only be using our 1st finger (index) to hold down the B note on the 2nd fret, although for good practice I want you to use your 1st finger to create a bar that runs from the B note all the way down to the bottom string, this will help when learning barre chords in later lessons.

I want you to do a practice strum at this stage to make sure you’ve got just the B note sounding clearly, remember it’s just the first finger pressing down on the 2nd fret of the A String (2nd string from the top) the rest of the bar you have formed doesn’t need to press down for the strings to ring clearly because your other fingers will be called into action in their place. Try to get your index finger as close to the fret as possible for the best tone.

You’ll only need to increase the force applied to the note if you get a buzzing sound, failing that try move your index finger closer to the fret bar. Changes like these should give you a clearer tone and will help for that note to sound clean.

Adding the fifth note and the octave to this B power chord gives us a rich sounding chord. The fifth note in the B Major Scale is an F#, remember the B Major scale goes B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A#, B. We want to play the F# on the 3rd string from the top which is the D String. The B octave is found one string below the F#, still on the 4th fret.

There are two common methods available to you to fret the F# and B octave. The first is to use your ring and pinky fingers, these are your 3rd and 4th fingers, to fret the notes one by one. Your 3rd finger is likely to be stronger so you will want to use it when fretting the comparatively larger D string, then use your 4th finger for the B octave. Positioning the fingers as close to the fret bar will give you the best tone.

The second method available to you might help if your fingers get tired in that position, you simply create another bar with your ring or pinky finger from the 3rd string down. For the first few times the stretch from the first finger on the 2nd fret to the 3rd finger on the 4th fret will be painful, but over time this will prove to be the fastest way to for the B chord on your guitar. Keeping your fourth finger free will allow you to use the trill technique which you will hear in some rock songs.

Visit Adam Summers at InstantGuitarist.com for more guides and tutorials so you can learn how to play guitar for free. You will also get more help on this often forgotten B Chord.