Article
How to Play Cleanly with Distortion and High Gain on Guitar
Master clean playing with high gain distortion. Learn muting, noise control, and pick attack techniques for precise, articulate heavy guitar.
B5 guitar shapes
Popular fretboard positions with fingering suggestions
Showing 8 of 63 playable shapes
About the chord
B5 guitar chord
The B5 power chord (5th), consisting of the root (B5) and perfect fifth F♯, provides a bold, open sound without major or minor coloration. Its simplicity and neutrality make it a staple in rock, punk, and metal for driving rhythms and raw power.
Root note: B
Quality: 5
Chord tones: 2
Playable shapes: 63
Chord tones
BF♯
Notes & Intervals
Each note below shows how the chord is built from its root. This is the theory layer underneath the fretboard shapes.
B Unison (Root) 1
The root anchors the chord and defines its tonal center.
F♯ Perfect Fifth 5
The fifth reinforces stability and gives the chord its strong harmonic frame.
Related Articles
Articles that reference this chord and explain how to use it in your playing.
Article
Drop B Tuning on Guitar: Setup, Chord Shapes, and Riffs
Master Drop B tuning on guitar. Learn setup requirements, string gauges, chord shapes, and riff patterns for heavy music.
Article
How to Write Guitar Riffs: Creating Memorable Hooks
Learn to write guitar riffs - the memorable hooks that define songs. Techniques, theory, and creative approaches for writing riffs that stick in people's heads.
Article
Metal Rhythm Guitar Techniques: Chugging, Galloping, and Beyond
Master palm muting, gallop rhythms, tremolo picking, and heavy tunings for crushing metal rhythm guitar parts
Article
Power Chords: Shapes, Muting & Tone
Master power chords on guitar - learn the two essential shapes, proper palm muting technique, and how to get the best tone from clean to crunchy.
Article
Power Chords: The Only Shape You Need for Rock Guitar
Master power chords on guitar - the essential building block of rock, punk, and metal. Learn the shapes, how to move them, and the songs that use them.