guitarpizza

pizzaguitar

B♭ Major 7th Guitar Chord (B♭maj7)

B♭maj7 sneaks the open D string into a flat key. x10231, easier than it reads. Jazz in B♭ treats it as home.

B♭maj7 sneaks fresh mozzarella past the anchovies.

B♭maj7 chord shapes in standard tuning

open string × muted / not played 1–4 suggested finger 3fr shape starts at fret 3 R · 3 · 5 · ♭7 chord tone each string sounds
B♭maj7 guitar chord diagram, Open position, frets x-1-0-2-3-1×1R3374325
Open position
x-1-0-2-3-1
B♭maj7 guitar chord diagram, Barre · 3fr, frets 6-5-3-3-3-53fr4R2315R337
Barre · 3fr
6-5-3-3-3-5
B♭maj7 guitar chord diagram, Barre · 6fr, frets 6-8-7-7-6-66fr1R4527335R
Barre · 6fr
6-8-7-7-6-6
B♭maj7 guitar chord diagram, Barre · 10fr, frets x-13-12-10-10-1010fr×3R231573
Barre · 10fr
x-13-12-10-10-10

How to play it

Place your index finger on the A (5th) string at fret 1, your middle finger on the high E (1st) string at fret 1, your ring finger on the G (3rd) string at fret 2, and your pinky finger on the B (2nd) string at fret 3. Let the D (4th) string ring open. Keep the low E (6th) string out of the strum. Start your downstroke from the A (5th) string.

Notes in this chord

SymbolIntervalNote
RrootB♭
3major thirdD
5perfect fifthF
7major seventhA

B♭maj7 FAQ

What notes are in B♭maj7?
B♭maj7 contains B♭, D, F, and A. That's the root (B♭), the major third, the perfect fifth, and the major seventh.

Is B♭maj7 a barre chord?
Not necessarily. The easiest B♭maj7 shape (x-1-0-2-3-1) needs no barre. It uses 4 fingers plus open strings. Barre versions exist too, starting at fret 3, and are handy when you want to move the same grip to other keys.

What is the easiest way to play B♭maj7 on guitar?
Start with the open position shape x-1-0-2-3-1. Place your index finger on the A (5th) string at fret 1, your middle finger on the high E (1st) string at fret 1, your ring finger on the G (3rd) string at fret 2, and your pinky finger on the B (2nd) string at fret 3. Let the D (4th) string ring open. Keep the low E (6th) string out of the strum. Start your downstroke from the A (5th) string.