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B7 Chord

B7 adds A to the B major triad. That flat seventh makes it useful before a chord whose root lies a fifth below B.

  • Notes: B-D sharp-F sharp-A
  • Symbol: B7
  • V7 in E major
  • Flat seventh
Switch chordB7

How to play a B7 chord

Notes: B - D# - F# - A · symbol B7

  • Root position

    B - D# - F# - A
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left 5-3-2-1

  • 1st inversion

    D# - F# - A - B
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left 5-4-2-1

  • 2nd inversion

    F# - A - B - D#
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-2-4-5 · Left 5-3-2-1

  • 3rd inversion

    A - B - D# - F#
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-2-4-5 · Left 5-3-2-1

Where does B7 belong?

In E major, B7 acts as V7 and points toward the tonic.
Play the role cards to hear how its surrounding chords change the job it does; Diatonic Chords explains the basic numbered roles.

  • In E majorDominant
    V7

    It resolves to E: D sharp rises to E and A falls a half step.

    EIAIVB7V7EI
  • In E minorMinor-key dominant
    V7

    The same pull in E minor, where harmonic minor supplies the raised D sharp.

    EmiAmivB7V7Emi
  • In B bluesBlues home
    I7

    In a 12-bar blues the home chord is itself a 7 chord, and it does not need to resolve.

    B7I7E7IV7B7I7F#7V7
  • In A majorSecondary dominant
    II7

    In A major it borrows a pull toward E, the V of that key.

    AIB7II7EVAI

Progressions to try

  • EAB7E

    B7 is V7 in E major; hear its seventh and third lean into the last chord.

  • EmAmB7Em

    The same dominant shape leads into a minor tonic in E minor.

  • B7E7B7F#7

    In B blues, the tonic itself carries a seventh; the loop returns to B7 without losing that blues color.

  • AB7EA

    B7 briefly acts as a secondary dominant, pointing toward the chord after it rather than the main tonic.

Which shape should you use?

On guitar, the open shape x21202 is the easiest place to start. The barre shape 797877, at the 7th fret, moves the chord up the neck and sits well between other barre chords.

On ukulele, start with 2322, played at the 2nd fret. 8979 gives a higher version.

On piano, play B-D sharp-F sharp-A. Move B up an octave to reach the first inversion, D sharp-F sharp-A-B; the notes remain the same while the lowest voice changes.

What are the inversions?

B is the root, D sharp the major third, F sharp the fifth and A the flat seventh, ten semitones above the root.

  • Root position: B-D sharp-F sharp-A, with B lowest.
  • First inversion: D sharp-F sharp-A-B, written B7/D# if D sharp is lowest in the whole arrangement.
  • Second inversion: F sharp-A-B-D sharp, written B7/F# if F sharp is lowest in the whole arrangement.
  • Third inversion: A-B-D sharp-F sharp, written B7/A if A is lowest in the whole arrangement.

A slash chord names the note in the bass, not merely the lowest note under one hand. Chord Inversions shows how to read that distinction.

How does B7 differ from Bmaj7?

Keep B, D sharp and F sharp; raise the seventh from A to A sharp. The result is Bmaj7, whose major seventh changes the pull. Try that one-note change on piano, then use the comparer to hear it in the full chord. See Bmaj7 for the other chord's full spelling and roles.

  • B7

    B - D# - F# - A
    C4

    B dominant 7

  • Bmaj7

    B - D# - F# - A#
    C4

    B major 7

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