B/F# on guitar: B with F sharp in the bass
B/F# is the B major chord (B, D♯, F♯) with its 5th, F♯, as the lowest note: the 2nd inversion of B. The notes are the same as in B; only the one at the bottom changes.
- Notes
- BD♯F♯
- Bass
- F♯ 5th of the chord
How to play B/F# on guitar
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Shape 1 · 1st position
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Shape 2 · fret 2 · barre
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Shape 3 · fret 4 · barre
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Shape 4 · fret 7 · barre
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Shape 5 · fret 9 · barre
Where B/F# shows up
The 5th in the bass is unstable and asks to move. The textbook use is the cadence: B/F# → F#7 → B, with the bass holding the same note through the first two chords (the "cadential six-four").
Other positions of B
Frequently asked questions
What does B/F# mean?
B/F# reads "B over F♯": you play B and the lowest note is F♯. In a chord symbol, whatever comes after the slash is always the bass.
What is the difference between B/F# and B?
The notes are the same (B, D♯, F♯); only the lowest one changes. With F♯ in the bass, B is in 2nd inversion, and the bass line can move by step between chords.
How do you play B/F# on guitar?
The shapes on this page go from easiest to hardest. In all of them F♯ is the lowest note; the low strings that would sound below it are not played (x).