B Dominant 7th Guitar Chord (B7)
B dominant 7th is a four-note chord built from B (the root), D♯ (the major third), F♯ (the perfect fifth), and A (the minor seventh). It carries built-in momentum: the tritone between its third and seventh makes it the engine of V–I motion in tonal music, and the default chord color in the blues. Below are 4 ways to play it in standard tuning, easiest shape first.
B7 chord shapes — standard tuning
How to play it
Place your index finger on the D (4th) string at fret 1, your middle finger on the A (5th) string at fret 2, your ring finger on the G (3rd) string at fret 2, and your pinky finger on the high E (1st) string at fret 2. Let the B (2nd) string ring open. Keep the low E (6th) string out of the strum — start your downstroke from the A (5th) string.
Once that shape is comfortable, try the other 3 voicings above — same notes, different neck positions and textures.
Notes in this chord
| Symbol | Interval | Note |
|---|---|---|
| R | root | B |
| 3 | major third | D♯ |
| 5 | perfect fifth | F♯ |
| ♭7 | minor seventh | A |
Keep exploring
Other tunings
Open the interactive chord charts to see B7 in open G, drop D, DADGAD, and more tunings.
More B chords
Nearby dominant 7th chords
B7 FAQ
What notes are in B7?
B7 contains B, D♯, F♯, and A — the root (B), the major third, the perfect fifth, and the minor seventh.
Is B7 a barre chord?
Not necessarily. The easiest B7 shape (x-2-1-2-0-2) needs no barre — it uses 4 fingers plus open strings. Barre versions exist too, starting at fret 4, and are handy when you want to move the same grip to other keys.
What is the easiest way to play B7 on guitar?
Start with the open position shape x-2-1-2-0-2. Place your index finger on the D (4th) string at fret 1, your middle finger on the A (5th) string at fret 2, your ring finger on the G (3rd) string at fret 2, and your pinky finger on the high E (1st) string at fret 2. Let the B (2nd) string ring open. Keep the low E (6th) string out of the strum — start your downstroke from the A (5th) string.