Mandolin · Level 1 · First steps
Switching between two chords in B major on Mandolin
Don’t just read about Switching between two chords in B major. Play it.
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Fast, relaxed chord changes start with just two chords. Moving back and forth between the home chord and the fifth chord trains your hands to change without looking.
B
Notes: B · D♯ · F♯
F♯
Notes: F♯ · A♯ · C♯
HOW TO PRACTISE IT
Six steps to a clean loop.
- Play each chord on its own: B and F♯. Press play on the chord card, then match the sound.
- Mandolin frets are close together, so reach with the fingertips and press each pair of strings evenly.
- Set the tempo to 45 BPM and play the progression with one chord per bar. Look ahead to the next chord during beat four, then land it exactly on beat one.
- Strum down on every beat, then try the bluegrass “chop”: a short, muted strum on beats two and four.
- Raise the tempo to 60 BPM once you can play the loop three times without stopping.
- Record one take, listen back and check for the gap between chords getting shorter each time.
Listen for
Aim for the gap between chords getting shorter each time. A common mistake is lifting every finger far off the instrument between chords.
Why it works
I is home; V is the most common chord to move to and away from. Together they form the backbone of folk, country and children's songs.
B major has 5 sharps; its relative minor key is G♯ minor.
Questions
What are the chords in I–V–I–V in B major?
In B major the progression is B | F♯ | B | F♯.
What is the key signature of B major?
B major has 5 sharps. Its relative minor is G♯ minor.
Is this lesson right for my level?
This is a level 1 lesson (first steps). If it feels too hard, start with “Your first three major chords”.
Your hands learn faster than your eyes.
Reading a chord chart is step one. Play it to a metronome, record it, and hear yourself get better, all in one app.
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