B7 chord on guitar
B Dominant Seventh. Notes: B, D#, F# and A.
How to play B7
- Put your index finger on the 4th (D) string at fret 1 (D#).
- Put your middle finger on the 5th (A) string at fret 2 (B).
- Put your ring finger on the 3rd (G) string at fret 2 (A).
- Put your pinky finger on the 1st (high E) string at fret 2 (F#).
- Let the open B string ring.
- Don't play the low E string: skip it or mute it with a fretting finger.
- Strum from the A string down.
All 4 ways to play B7
Easiest first. Tap play to hear each one.Open position
EasyBarre at fret 4
MediumBarre at fret 2
MediumBarre at fret 7
HardNotes and theory
The dominant seventh adds a minor seventh to a major triad. It sounds restless and wants to resolve, which is why it shows up right before the home chord and all over blues. The formula is 1 3 5 b7, and you will also see it written as Bdom7.
Keys that use B7
More B chords
All B guitar chordsdominant seventh chords in every key
Questions
What notes are in the B7 chord?
B7 (B dominant seventh) is made of four notes: B (root), D# (major third), F# (perfect fifth) and A (minor seventh).
How do you play B7 on guitar?
The easiest B7 is the "open position" shape. Put your index finger on the 4th (D) string at fret 1 (D#). Put your middle finger on the 5th (A) string at fret 2 (B). Put your ring finger on the 3rd (G) string at fret 2 (A).
Is B7 hard to play on guitar?
No. The easiest version is rated easy and uses 4 fretted notes plus open strings.
What key is B7 in?
B7 belongs to 2 keys: E major (as the V7 chord) and C sharp minor (as the VII7 chord).
What does a dominant seventh chord sound like?
The dominant seventh adds a minor seventh to a major triad. It sounds restless and wants to resolve, which is why it shows up right before the home chord and all over blues.