B7 Guitar Chord Chart Guide - Guitar Space (2024)

Introduction: Basic Theory

From a theoretical point of view, The B7 chord is a seventh or tetrad chord. This chord is formed from the major B chord and the minor seventh. Therefore, the four chord notes are the fundamental, the major third, the just fifth and the minor seventh. In this case, the fundamental is B and, therefore, the notes of the chord are:

The root note: B
A major third: D#
A fifth: F#
A minor seventh: A

This gives it a melodic sound usually heard in jazz, flamenco or rock, and depending on which chords are played in succession, it usually serves as a dissonant chord. This B7 chord on the guitar can be played in different parts of the fretboard, some harder with a barre chord technique, and some using open and muted strings.

Bottom Line Up Top: In this article, I will go over five different ways of playing a B7 chord on a Guitar and four different ways on a Ukelele. I will outline its importance, what chord it usually resolves to, songs that include it, and valuable tips for learning it the first time around.

Related: How to Read Guitar Chords?

Different Ways of Playing B7 on Guitar

The B7 is basically a simple B Major chord with an added flat seventh. You can see this clearly in the second way I will list for playing this chord.

I’ll start from the bottom of the fretboard and move up through the different positions. As with most guitar chord explanations, fingers will be numbered 1 to 4, index finger being 1, pinkie being 4. These chords consider having your guitar in a standard EADGBE tuning.

B7 with open B

This way is one of the easiest and bigger sounding ways of playing B7 on a guitar. one of my favourites, as we have to mute fewer other strings. When jumping quickly to this chord, my recommendation is setting up the “shape” of fingers 1,2 and 3, and then placing 4.

On the high E string, you place your fourth finger or pinkie on the2nd fret.
The B string ringsopen, giving it a loud sound.
On the G string, you place your third finger or ring finger on the2nd fret.
On the D string,you place your first finger or index finger on the1st fret.
On the A string, you place your second finger or middle finger on the 2nd fret.
The lower Estring is muted. Either by your thumb, crossing it over, or the tip of your second or middle finger.

B7 on the Second Fret Involves Using a Barre Chord Technique

This might make it a bit harder to make it sound clean than other positions, but is is quite common due to the ease of setting it up. If you’re going to pluck it and not strum it, you can decide not to play the F# that rings out on the high E string:

The high E string is barred by your first finger or index finger on the 2nd fret. If you are plucking and not strumming, you can avoid this string.
On the B string,you place your fourth finger or pinkie on the4th fret.
The G stringis being barred by your first finger or index finger on the2nd fret.
On the D string,you place your third finger or ring finger on the4thfret.
On the A string, you place the tip of your first finger or index finger on the2nd fretand barre the rest.
The lower Estringis muted by the tip of your first or index finger.

B7 on 7th Fret

B7 on 7th fret, as if we were doing a barre Bm on 7th, but removing our fourth finger or pinkie.

The high E string is barred by your first finger or index finger on the 7th fret. If you are plucking and not strumming, you can avoid this string.
The B string is barred by your first finger or index finger on the 7th fret. Again, if you are plucking and not strumming, you can avoid this string. You also could decorate this chord by placing your fourth finger or pinkie on the 10th fret as A is also within the chord as the minor seventh.
On the G string, you place your second finger or middle finger on the 8th fret.
The D string is barred by your first finger or index finger on the 7th fret.
On the A string, you place the third finger or ring finger on the 9th fret.
On the lower Estring you place the tip of your first finger or index finger on the 7th fret, and barre the rest.

B7 on 9th Fret

This is a different, slightly smaller sounding B major seventh. You won’t usually be playing this voicing if you are a beginner, but it allows a more funky style of playing along the top side of the fretboard, swinging your thumb over to mute the rest.

On the high E string, you place your fourth finger or pinkie on the 11th fret.
On the B string, you place your second finger or middle finger on the 10th fret.
On the G string, you place your third finger or ring finger on the 11th fret.
On the D string, you place your first finger or index finger on the 9th fret.
The A string is muted, usually by your thumb, or intentionally not strummed or picked.
The lower E stringis muted, usually by your thumb, or intentionally not strummed or picked.

B7 on 5th Fret

The reason I haven’t mentioned this one before is that you will very rarely use it. It does, however, stretch your hand out and has a quite unique sound to it. It sounds very jazzy and soft but is hard to play quickly or clean.

Different Ways of Playing B7 on Ukelele

B7, I find is even a more common chord on the ukelele than on the guitar- at least that’s what I’ve found playing both instruments for a while now. Though it is true that I don’t play the ukelele as much, it is a fun and light instrument to carry with you on the go. All these chord voicings are considered your ukelele is in standard tuning (GCEA).

B7 Barred on 2nd Fret

This is the most common way of playing B7 on the ukelele, as barre chords on the ukelele are generally considered more comfortable than on a guitar. This position is also similar to playing a D chord. In alternate notation, this is a 2-3-2-2.

- The A string is barred with your first or index finger on the 2nd fret.
- The E string is also barred with your first or index finger on the 2nd fret.
- On the C string, you place your second finger or middle finger on the 3rd fret.
- The G string is barred with your first or index finger on the 2nd fret.

B7 on 2nd fret with open A

This lets the A ring out and is not a barred chord. Some consider this positioning a bit harder than the previous one, but I personally prefer it. In alternate notation, this is a 4-3-2-0.

The A string rings out.
On the E string, you place your first or index finger on the 2nd fret.
On the C string, you place your second finger or middle finger on the 3rd fret.
On the G string, you place your third or ring finger on the 4th fret.

B7 on 4th Fret

This will be a bit difficult for those of you that, like me, have big hands or chubby fingers. It is hard to form it quickly and make sure it rings clearly. In alternate notation, this is a 4-6-5-6.

On the A string, you place your 4th finger or pinkie on the 6th fret.
On the E string, you place your second or middle finger on the 5th fret.
On the C string, you place your third finger or ring finger on the 6th fret.
On the G string, you place your first or index finger on the 4th fret.

B7 on 7th Fret

This is the hardest of all positions, first because of the big hands’ factor, and secondly, because as a guitarist, it triggers your muscle memory to form a typical Dmin (on the ukelele) or Emin (on the guitar) but breaking it up a bit. In alternate notation, this is an 8-9-7-8.

On the A string, you place your 4th finger or pinkie on the 9th fret.
On the E string, you place your first or index finger on the 7th fret.
On the C string, you place your third finger or ring finger on the 9th fret.
On the G string, you place your second or middle finger on the 8th fret.

Popular Songs with B7

You won’t find many pop songs with a B7 chord in them, but you will find many blues, jazz and rockabilly songs. It’s just not a “beginner” chord, and it has a more complex sonority than what average pop songs usually use. I’ve listed a few songs where you’ll come across this chord if you decide to learn them on the guitar:

If you are into blues and rock-n-roll, some improvising in the key of E can include a B7 before it resolves to E in most cases.
If you´re into flamenco you probably know Paco de Lucía – Entre Dos Aguas. Second 0:18:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oyhlad64-s&ab_channel=KayoooS
Another classic: Sweet Home Chicago by the Blues Brothers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEmvBdRLg4k&ab_channel=Mofromusic
I Wanna Hold Your Hand by The Beatles is a tremendously good workout for chord changes. Amongst other minor chords and D7 we also have a B7.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jenWdylTtzs&ab_channel=TheBeatlesVEVO

Popular Scales to Improvise Over B7

The following scales are suitable not only for B7 but for any dominant 7th chord. You can also mix it with major scales if you don’t play the minor seventh, which pulls us towards a resolution down a perfect fifth or up a perfect fourth. Here are some scales you should check out:

The Mixolydian Scale: All notes of the B7 chord are found in this Mixolydian scale, which is related to the fifth chord of the major scale. Steps go 1-1-1/2-1-1-1/2-1. The half step is between 2 and 3, 5 and 6. In C Mixolydian, you even have the b7.
The Lydian Dominant Scale: This is the fourth scale of the melodic minor scale. It highlights a raised 11th when working with dominant seventh chords. The half step here is between 3 and 4, 5 and 6.
The Major Pentatonic Scale: This is the easiest of the three and is made up of only five notes, with two one and a half steps between 2 and 3, 5 and 6. It has a 9th and 13th, so it’s fun to play with even though it is a bit limited.

FAQs

Question: How do You Play an Easy B7?

Answer: It depends on if barre chords are hard for you or not, but I’d say the second way outlined above, as a barre chord on 2nd fret, for its similarity to a regular B major shape.

Question: What Key is B7 In?

Answer: It depends on the chords surrounding it, but, being the fifth chord in the E major scale, its tension resolves to E as the root note.

Question: What Genre is B7 Most Common In?

Answer: You will probably find B7 in genres like Jazz, Blues, Flamenco or Soul.

Question: What are the Three Chords Used in the Blues?

Answer: Those would be the first, subdominant and dominant- 1, 4 and 5. In the key of C, it would be C, F, G and then to C again.

Question: What is the Most Common Key for Blues?

Answer: E would be the most common key, although you can also find many blues progressions played in A.

Summary

B Major seventh will not be the first chord progression you will learn. It is, however, a practical and slightly dark sounding chord. If you are a blues lover or you intend to dive into jazz, the chord chart in this article is definitely something you should study very well.

These voicings of B7 are probably for intermediate/advanced level players, and even then, they are not easy chords to switch to. Try to play around with the sound or shape you enjoy the most, and then try improvising to a simple chord progression with B7, even if it’s just B7-E.

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Taylor Petrie

Classically Trained Maestro at Guitar Space

Taylor has a whole slew of experience; professional training, classical knowledge, and he’s fronted a few bands. So no matter what your long-term guitar goals are, Taylor’s been there. And he’s here to share with you the ins and outs, what to do and what to avoid, and whatever other knowledge you need to master your instrument. Every day, he spends time learning new things about the guitar; the main drive in his journey to reach all people with the power of music.