B7 Guitar Chord
B7 is a dominant seventh chord. It adds a minor seventh to a major chord, which creates tension that wants to move on to the next chord. It is everywhere in blues. Its notes are B, D#, F# and A. Below are 3 ways to play it, each with a chord diagram, tab and finger numbers.
Notes in B7
| Note | Degree | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| B | R | Root |
| D# | 3 | Major 3rd |
| F# | 5 | Perfect 5th |
| A | b7 | Minor 7th |
Formula: 1–3–5–b7
B7 chord shapes
Finger numbers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 pinky. In the tab, x means don't play that string and 0 means play it open. In the diagrams the top line is the 1st (thinnest) string and the nut is on the left.
Open
Easiest- Tab (6th → 1st string)
- x 2 1 2 0 2
- Fingers
- – 2 1 3 – 4
A-shape 2fr
- Tab (6th → 1st string)
- x 2 4 2 4 2
- Fingers
- – 1 3 1 4 1
E-shape 7fr
- Tab (6th → 1st string)
- 7 9 7 8 7 7
- Fingers
- 1 3 1 2 1 1
How to play B7 (easiest shape)
Shape: Open, tab x 2 1 2 0 2 (6th to 1st string).
- 1Put your index finger (1) on the 4th string at the 1st fret.
- 2Put your middle finger (2) on the 5th string at the 2nd fret.
- 3Put your ring finger (3) on the 3rd string at the 2nd fret.
- 4Put your pinky (4) on the 1st string at the 2nd fret.
- 5Let the 2nd string ring open.
- 6Don't play the 6th string.
- 7Strum down from the 5th string to the 1st string.
B7: common questions
- What notes are in the B7 chord?
- B7 has 4 notes: B, D#, F# and A. Counted from the root, that is 1–3–5–b7.
- Is there an easier way to play B7?
- The easiest shape on this page is "Open" (x 2 1 2 0 2). It needs no barre: each finger presses just one string.
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