B7 Chord on Guitar (B dominant seventh)
B7 is a dominant seventh chord with a bluesy and restless, it wants to resolve sound. It contains the notes B – D# – F# – A (major chord + minor seventh). Below you will find 4 ways to play it on guitar.
How to play B7
Position 1: x 2 1 2 0 2
- low E: don't play
- A: fret 2
- D: fret 1
- G: fret 2
- B: open
- high E: fret 2
Position 2: x 2 4 2 4 2
- low E: don't play
- A: fret 2
- D: fret 4
- G: fret 2
- B: fret 4
- high E: fret 2
Position 3: 7 9 7 8 7 7
- low E: fret 7
- A: fret 9
- D: fret 7
- G: fret 8
- B: fret 7
- high E: fret 7
Position 4: x x 9 11 10 11
- low E: don't play
- A: don't play
- D: fret 9
- G: fret 11
- B: fret 10
- high E: fret 11
The first shape is an open chord: it uses open strings, so it is the easiest way to play B7 and rings out the most. Strum only the strings that are not marked with an x.
Chord theory
A dominant seventh chord adds a minor seventh (10 half steps above the root) to a major chord. The tension between the third and the seventh makes the chord sound like it is about to move somewhere else.
Degrees: 1 = B, 3 = D#, 5 = F#, ♭7 = A
Using B7 in songs
The dominant seventh usually sits on the 5th degree of a key and pulls strongly back to the tonic (for example G7 to C). It is also the main chord type in blues, where all three chords are often played as sevenths.