Skip to content

B7 chord

B7 (B dominant seventh) is B, D♯, F♯ and A. It sounds bluesy and restless: it wants to move on, usually a fourth up.

B7

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

BAD♯F♯

Or pick another chord to see and hear it

Root
Chord

Tap keys on the piano to find which chord they make. The editor opens without an account.

Notes in the B7 chord

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: each number is the note’s place in the B major scale, with ♭ a half step lower and ♯ a half step higher. On the piano it is two white keys and two black keys (D♯ and F♯).

The notes of B7 and their intervals from B
NoteFormulaIntervalHalf steps up
B1Root0
D♯3Major third4
F♯5Perfect fifth7
A♭7Minor seventh10

B7 chord inversions

An inversion is the same chord with another of its notes at the bottom. It keeps the chord’s sound but moves your hand less between chords, which is why pianists use them all the time. The notes are listed lowest first.

Root position

B D♯ F♯ A

Written B7, with the root at the bottom.

1st inversion

D♯ F♯ A B

Written B7/D♯: D♯ at the bottom.

2nd inversion

F♯ A B D♯

Written B7/F♯: F♯ at the bottom.

3rd inversion

A B D♯ F♯

Written B7/A: A at the bottom.

Keys with the B7 chord

B7 is built from the notes of these keys, so it fits songs in them. The Roman numeral says which note of the key it starts on. Each key’s page has its scale and all its chords.

Major keys
Minor keys

Raised 7th: the minor key with its seventh note a half step higher (harmonic minor), as most minor songs play their V and vii chords.

Chords that often come after B7

EE G♯ BB7 is the V7 of E: its seventh pulls straight home there.EmE G BThe same pull into Em, home in the minor key.C♯mC♯ E G♯B7 to C♯m is V7 to vi, the surprise ending (a deceptive cadence).

More piano 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 piano chords chart.

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the B7 chord?

B7 is B, D♯, F♯ and A. On the piano that is two white keys and two black keys (D♯ and F♯).

How do you play B7 on the piano?

With your right hand, play B, D♯, F♯ and A with fingers 1, 2, 3 and 5 (thumb to little finger). With your left hand it is 5, 3, 2 and 1. From B, count 4 half steps up to D♯, 3 more to F♯ and 3 more to A.

What are the inversions of B7?

Root position: B D♯ F♯ A. 1st inversion: D♯ F♯ A B (B7/D♯). 2nd inversion: F♯ A B D♯ (B7/F♯). 3rd inversion: A B D♯ F♯ (B7/A). The notes are the same; only the lowest one changes.

What key is B7 in?

In major keys, B7 is the V7 chord in E major. In minor keys, it is the VII7 chord in C♯ minor and the V7 chord in E minor (with its raised seventh).

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 piano chords

Keep going