B7 Chord
The B7 is a dominant 7th chord that sounds bluesy, tense, and yearning to resolve. Dominant 7th chords are the engine of blues and jazz. Their inherent tension wants to resolve, making them perfect for transitions and turnarounds.
Open Position
Chord Diagrams
Position — Fret 7
Uses a barre chord technique
Barre Shape — Fret 2
Uses a barre chord technique
How to Play B7
Follow these steps for the open position fingering:
| # | String | Instruction | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low E (6th string) | ●Fret 7 with your index finger | B |
| 2 | A (5th string) | ●Fret 9 with your ring finger | D# |
| 3 | D (4th string) | ●Fret 9 with your pinky finger | F# |
| 4 | G (3rd string) | ●Fret 8 with your middle finger | A |
| 5 | B (2nd string) | ●Fret 7 with your index finger | B |
| 6 | High E (1st string) | ●Fret 7 with your index finger | D# |
○ = Open string (no fingers needed)
✕ = Muted string (don't play)
● = Press your finger down firmly just behind the fret
Notes in B7
The B7 chord is built from 4 distinct notes, each serving a harmonic role:
Songs Using B7
These songs from our play-along library feature the B7 chord:
Other B Chords
Explore other chord types built on the same root note:
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