B7 Guitar Chord

2134

B7

NameB dominant 7
NotesBD#F#A
IntervalsRroot3major 3rd55thb7flat 7th

Root

Chord type

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  • Left arrowRight arrow Root
  • Up arrowDown arrow Chord type

Shape

Tone

Dots show

B7 is the open chord that sends you home to E. It's in almost every song in the key of E, and in a lot of blues.

How to play the B7 chord

  1. Don't play the low E string.
  2. Put your 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the A string (B).
  3. Put your 1st finger on the 1st fret of the D string (D#).
  4. Put your 3rd finger on the 2nd fret of the G string (A).
  5. Put your 4th finger (pinky) on the 2nd fret of the high E string (F#).
  6. Let the B string ring open (B).
  7. Strum from the A string down, skipping the string above it.

TipFour fingers with the B string open in the middle. Put your 2nd finger down first as an anchor, then add the rest around it.

5 ways to play B7

Every shape below is a real B7, checked note by note: B, D#, F#, A and nothing else. Easiest first, with the dark dot on the root.

B7 chord diagram, open: x 2 1 2 0 2
Open EasyWith sound The one most players learn first. This is the shape you hear on the play button.
B7 chord diagram, barre, 7th fret: 7 9 7 8 7 7
Barre, 7th fret Medium Root on the low E string. It's the open E7 shape moved up with your 1st finger as the nut, so you can slide it to any dominant 7 chord.
B7 chord diagram, 9th fret: x x 9 11 10 11
9th fret Medium 4 strings, root on the D string. Higher and lighter, great for a second guitar part.
B7 chord diagram, 12th fret: x 14 13 14 12 x
12th fret Medium The open C7 shape moved up, root on the A string. A fuller sound, but a stretch.
B7 chord diagram, barre, 2nd fret: x 2 4 2 4 2
Barre, 2nd fret Hard Root on the A string. The open A7 shape moved up with a barre, a movable shape for any dominant 7 chord.

B vs B7: hear the difference

B7 is B plus A (the flat 7th). Play them back to back:

B7

BD#F#A

Bluesy and restless

B

BD#F#

Bright and settled

Chord progressions with B7

Chords make sense once you move between them. Press play to hear each progression with the real recordings, one chord per bar, then play along. Tap any chord to open its page.

Blues shuffle

I7 - IV7 - I7 - V7 in B
B7 E7 B7 F#7
In the blues every chord is a 7.

The V7 going home

I - IV - V7 - I in E
E A B7 E
A dominant 7 wants to resolve to the chord a 5th below.

Minor key V7

i - iv - V7 - i in E minor
Em Am B7 Em
The same pull, in a minor key.

Practice changing to B7

Switching chords cleanly is what makes a new chord usable in a song. Start the timer, then go back and forth between B7 and the chord you picked, strumming each one, and keep a count in your head. Your hands stay on the guitar the whole time. When it beeps, type in your count and try to beat it next time.

B7 to E7

60seconds

-last try

-your best

Practice B7 with

Songs that use B7

  • Nothing Else Matters by MetallicaVerse ends G-B7-Em
  • Paint It Black by The Rolling StonesVerse Em-B7
  • Heartbreak Hotel by Elvis PresleyE-A7-B7 blues
  • Reminiscing by Little River BandVerse Gmaj7-C9-B7

Learn it with a teacher

Diagrams show you where your fingers go. A teacher shows you how to make it sound good. Start with these video lessons from the Infinite Guitar library:

Blues Basics - The Chords Free with an account · Chris Feener Chord Changes for Beginners - Transitions Free with an account · Chris Feener Mastering Bar Chords - Introduction Free with an account · Chris Feener

Access these lessons with a free account. No payment needed. Sign up free

Chords that go with B7

E7dominant 7F#7dominant 7EmajorAmajorEmminorAmminor

Other B chords

BmajorBmminorBmaj7major 7Bm7minor 7Bsus4suspended 4B7sus47 suspended 4B5power chordB6major 6Bm6minor 6B9dominant 9BaugaugmentedBdim7diminished 7

Other dominant 7 chords

C7C E G BbC#7C# E# G# BD7D F# A CEb7Eb G Bb DbE7E G# B DF7F A C EbF#7F# A# C# EG7G B D FAb7Ab C Eb GbA7A C# E GBb7Bb D F Ab

See all 154 chords in the Guitar Chord Chart

B7 chord FAQ

What notes are in a B7 chord?

B7 has 4 notes: B (the root), D# (the major 3rd), F# (the 5th) and A (the flat 7th). Every B7 shape on the guitar is those notes in a different order.

What is the difference between B and B7?

B7 is B plus A (the flat 7th). Use the player above to hear both.

Is B7 hard to play?

No, it's one of the easier ones: 4 fingers and no barre, and the open strings do some of the work. Practice switching to it from a chord you already know.

How do you play B7 as a barre chord?

Barre the 7th fret with your 1st finger, using the E shape (7-9-7-8-7-7). That shape is movable: slide it up or down and it plays a dominant 7 chord on every fret.

What key is B7 in?

It's the V7 chord in E major and E minor, and the I7 chord in a blues in B.