B7 Chord
How to play B 7th on guitar — bluesy and unresolved — it leans hard toward the chord a fourth above.
- Notes
- B – D♯ – F♯ – A
- Frets (low → high)
- x 2 1 2 0 2
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Shape
- Open position
How to play B7, step by step
- 1Put your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the A string (5th).
- 2Put your index finger on the 1st fret of the D string (4th).
- 3Put your ring finger on the 2nd fret of the G string (3rd).
- 4Put your little finger on the 2nd fret of the high E string (1st).
- 5Leave the low E string out — mute it with the side of a finger, or just avoid it as you strum.
- 6Let the B string ring open.
- 7Strum slowly and check every string sounds cleanly; if one buzzes, press closer to the fret wire and arch your fingers so they clear the neighbouring strings.
An easier way to play B7
B7 is an awkward stretch in this position. A capo lets you swap it for a shape you can already play.
Put a capo on fret 2 and play an open A7 shape. The capo raises every string by 2 semitones, so what your hand fingers as A7 comes out of the guitar as B7 — the same chord, none of the strain.
What makes a dominant seventh chord
Bluesy and unresolved — it leans hard toward the chord a fourth above.
| Note | Interval | Semitones above B |
|---|---|---|
| B | root | 0 |
| D♯ | major 3rd | 4 |
| F♯ | 5th | 7 |
| A | minor 7th | 10 |
Other B chords
Same root, different colour. Swapping one of these into a progression is the quickest way to change its mood without changing the key.
Every 7th chord
The same shape moved around the neck. If you can play B7 you are a fret-slide away from all of these.
Frequently asked questions
- What notes are in the B7 chord?
- B7 is made of B, D♯, F♯, A — the root, major 3rd, 5th, minor 7th of B.
- Is B7 hard to play?
- No — B7 sits at x 2 1 2 0 2 and is rated moderate, so it is comfortable for most beginners.
- How do I play B7 without a barre?
- Put a capo on fret 2 and play the open A7 shape. The capo raises every string by 2 semitones, so the shape sounds as B7 while your hand does far less work.
Got a chart full of chords like B7?
Upload a chord sheet and move every chord into a key that fits your hands and your voice — the layout stays exactly as printed. Or let the capo calculator pick the position that turns the barre chords into open ones.