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B♭7 chord on guitar

B♭7 (B♭ dominant seventh) is B♭, D, F and A♭. It has no open shape, so it is played as a barre chord, most often the one at the 1st fret, written x13131. Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across the 5th to 1st strings at the 1st fret. Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 4th string, 3rd fret. Put your 4th finger (little) on the 2nd string, 3rd fret. Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.

B♭7

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

  • 1st fret

    Barre chord, root on the 5th string

    13141B♭FA♭DF

    x13131

  • 6th fret

    Barre chord, root on the 6th string

    6fr131211B♭FA♭DFB♭

    686766

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 B♭7

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. Barre chord, root on the 5th string · 1st fret

    x13131
    • Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across the 5th to 1st strings at the 1st fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 4th string, 3rd fret.
    • Put your 4th finger (little) on the 2nd string, 3rd fret.
    • Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.

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

    686766
    • Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across all six strings at the 6th fret.
    • Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 3rd string, 7th fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 5th string, 8th fret.

Notes in the B♭7 chord

B♭7 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 B♭7 piano chord page.

Chords that often come after B♭7

E♭x68886B♭7 is the V7 of E♭: its seventh pulls straight home there.E♭mx68876The same pull into E♭m, home in the minor key.Cmx35543B♭7 to Cm is V7 to vi, the surprise ending (a deceptive cadence).

More guitar chords

Other chords on B♭

B♭B♭mB♭maj7B♭m7B♭sus2B♭sus4B♭add9B♭9B♭6A♯dimA♯m7♭5A♯dim7B♭aug

Dominant seventh chords on other notes

C7C♯7D7E♭7E7F7F♯7G7A♭7A7B7

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

Frequently asked questions

How do you play B♭7 on guitar?

It has no open shape, so it is played as a barre chord, most often the one at the 1st fret, written x13131. Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across the 5th to 1st strings at the 1st fret. Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 4th string, 3rd fret. Put your 4th finger (little) on the 2nd string, 3rd fret. Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.

What notes are in the B♭7 chord?

B♭7 is B♭, D, F and A♭. In the shape written x13131, the 5th to 1st strings play B♭, F, A♭, D and F.

Is B♭7 a barre chord?

Usually, yes: it has no open shape. The barre at the 1st fret (x13131) is the one most players use; the same shape moved to another fret plays another root.

How many ways can you play B♭7 on guitar?

This page shows two: x13131 (1st fret) and 686766 (6th 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 B♭7?

Yes. “Make a beat in E♭ major” opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in E♭ major on E♭ B♭ Cm A♭, the key where B♭7 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♭ Cm A♭, the key where B♭7 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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