BeginnerDominant 7th
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.
Notes:BRoot (1)D#Major 3rd (3)F#Perfect 5th (5)AMinor 7th (b7)
Open Position
Chord Diagrams
Open Position
No barre required
How to Play B7
Follow these steps for the open position fingering:
| # | String | Instruction | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low E (6th string) | ✕Mute, do not play this string | – |
| 2 | A (5th string) | ●Fret 2 with your middle finger | D# |
| 3 | D (4th string) | ●Fret 1 with your index finger | F# |
| 4 | G (3rd string) | ●Fret 2 with your ring finger | A |
| 5 | B (2nd string) | ○Open, play the open string | B |
| 6 | High E (1st string) | ●Fret 2 with your pinky 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:
B
Root (1)
The root, gives the chord its name
D#
Major 3rd (3)
The major third, creates the bright sound
F#
Perfect 5th (5)
The fifth, adds power and stability
A
Minor 7th (b7)
Extended tone, adds richness and color
Read the deep-dive guide for B7
Other B Chords
Explore other chord types built on the same root note:
Practice with AI
Get a personalized practice session focused on B7 and the chords that pair with it.
Start PracticingExplore on Fretboard
See where B7 appears across the entire guitar neck in our interactive explorer.
Open Fretboard