B/D# on guitar: B with D sharp in the bass
B/D# is the B major chord (B, D♯, F♯) with its 3rd, D♯, as the lowest note: the 1st inversion of B. The notes are the same as in B; only the one at the bottom changes.
- Notes
- BD♯F♯
- Bass
- D♯ 3rd of the chord
How to play B/D# on guitar
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Shape 1 · 1st position
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Shape 2 · fret 4 · barre
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Shape 3 · fret 6 · barre
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Shape 4 · fret 9
Where B/D# shows up
With the 3rd in the bass, the bass line can move by step. The classic case: E → B/D# → C#m, with the bass walking down E, D♯, C♯.
Other positions of B
Frequently asked questions
What does B/D# mean?
B/D# reads "B over D♯": you play B and the lowest note is D♯. In a chord symbol, whatever comes after the slash is always the bass.
What is the difference between B/D# and B?
The notes are the same (B, D♯, F♯); only the lowest one changes. With D♯ in the bass, B is in 1st inversion, and the bass line can move by step between chords.
How do you play B/D# on guitar?
The shapes on this page go from easiest to hardest. In all of them D♯ is the lowest note; the low strings that would sound below it are not played (x).