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B7 chord on guitar

B7 (B dominant seventh) is B, D♯, F♯ and A. The easiest way to play it is the open B7 chord, written x21202. Put your 1st finger (index) on the 4th string, 1st fret. Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 5th string, 2nd fret. Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 3rd string, 2nd fret. Put your 4th finger (little) on the 1st string, 2nd fret. Let the 2nd string ring open. Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.

B7

B dominant seventh · B D♯ F♯ A · 1 3 5 ♭7

  • Open position

    Open chord

    2134BD♯ABF♯

    x21202

  • 2nd fret

    Barre chord, root on the 5th string

    13141BF♯AD♯F♯

    x24242

  • 7th fret

    Barre chord, root on the 6th string

    7fr131211BF♯AD♯F♯B

    797877

Or pick another chord to see and hear it

Root
Chord

Dots show where each finger goes, numbered 1 (index) to 4 (little); the green ones are B, the root.

How to play B7

Strings are counted from the thinnest: the 1st is the high E and the 6th the low E. Each shape is written as tab from the 6th string to the 1st, a number for the fret to press, 0 for an open string and x for one not played.

  1. 1. Open chord · Open position

    x21202
    • Put your 1st finger (index) on the 4th string, 1st fret.
    • Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 5th string, 2nd fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 3rd string, 2nd fret.
    • Put your 4th finger (little) on the 1st string, 2nd fret.
    • Let the 2nd string ring open.
    • Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.

  2. 2. Barre chord, root on the 5th string · 2nd fret

    x24242
    • Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across the 5th to 1st strings at the 2nd fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 4th string, 4th fret.
    • Put your 4th finger (little) on the 2nd string, 4th fret.
    • Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.

  3. 3. Barre chord, root on the 6th string · 7th fret

    797877
    • Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across all six strings at the 7th fret.
    • Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 3rd string, 8th fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 5th string, 9th fret.

Notes in the B7 chord

B7 is B, D♯, F♯ and A, and it sounds bluesy and restless: it wants to move on, usually a fourth up. From B, count 4 half steps up to D♯, 3 more to F♯ and 3 more to A. Its formula is 1 3 5 ♭7. The shapes above play these notes in different orders and octaves, some more than once, but always with B lowest. See its inversions and keys on the B7 piano chord page.

Chords that often come after B7

E022100B7 is the V7 of E: its seventh pulls straight home there.Em022000The same pull into Em, home in the minor key.C♯mx46654B7 to C♯m is V7 to vi, the surprise ending (a deceptive cadence).

More guitar chords

Other chords on B

BBmBmaj7Bm7Bsus2Bsus4Badd9B9B6BdimBm7♭5Bdim7Baug

Dominant seventh chords on other notes

C7C♯7D7E♭7E7F7F♯7G7A♭7A7B♭7

Or see every chord at once on the guitar chord chart.

Frequently asked questions

How do you play B7 on guitar?

The easiest way to play it is the open B7 chord, written x21202. Put your 1st finger (index) on the 4th string, 1st fret. Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 5th string, 2nd fret. Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 3rd string, 2nd fret. Put your 4th finger (little) on the 1st string, 2nd fret. Let the 2nd string ring open. Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.

What notes are in the B7 chord?

B7 is B, D♯, F♯ and A. In the shape written x21202, the 5th to 1st strings play B, D♯, A, B and F♯.

Is B7 a barre chord?

It doesn't have to be: x21202 needs no barre. The barre shapes (x24242, 797877) play it higher up the neck and move to any root.

How many ways can you play B7 on guitar?

This page shows three: x21202 (open position), x24242 (2nd fret) and 797877 (7th fret). Any chord can be played in more places up the neck; these are the ones chord books show first.

Can I make a beat with B7?

Yes. “Make a beat in E major” opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in E major on E B C♯m A, the key where B7 is the V7 chord. Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account is needed to start.

Make a beat in E major

Opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in E major on E B C♯m A, the key where B7 is the V7 chord. Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account needed to start.

Make a beat in E majorAll guitar chords

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