B dominant seventh chord (B7)
The B dominant seventh chord (B7) is a dominant seventh chord: a major triad with a minor seventh on top, B, D♯, F♯ and A (root, major third, perfect fifth and minor seventh).
It is the V7 in E major and the V7 in E minor, and it wants to resolve to E major, a perfect fourth higher.
Below: voicings, notes on the fretboard, ukulele, piano, inversions and progressions.
How to play B dominant seventh on guitar
There are 3 guitar voicings.
Frets from the 6th string to the 1st: x = not played, 0 = open string.
- Voicing 1: x-2-1-2-0-2, open position, with B in the bass (fingers x-2-1-3-0-4).
- Voicing 2: 7-9-7-8-7-7, movable E-shape barre chord at fret 7, with B in the bass.
- Voicing 3: x-2-4-2-4-2, movable A-shape barre chord at fret 2, with B in the bass.
Notes of the B dominant seventh chord on the fretboard
B dominant seventh has 4 notes: B, D♯, F♯ and A. This is where they fall on each string, from the nut to the 12th fret (fret number in parentheses):
- String 6 (E): F♯ (2) · A (5) · B (7) · D♯ (11)
- String 5 (A): A (0) · B (2) · D♯ (6) · F♯ (9) · A (12)
- String 4 (D): D♯ (1) · F♯ (4) · A (7) · B (9)
- String 3 (G): A (2) · B (4) · D♯ (8) · F♯ (11)
- String 2 (B): B (0) · D♯ (4) · F♯ (7) · A (10) · B (12)
- String 1 (E): F♯ (2) · A (5) · B (7) · D♯ (11)
Formula and intervals of B dominant seventh
Its formula is 1-3-5-♭7; in semitones from the root, 0-4-7-10.
- B: Root, the note that gives the chord its name
- D♯: Major third (M3), 4 semitones above B
- F♯: Perfect fifth (P5), 7 semitones above B
- A: Minor seventh (m7), 10 semitones above B
B dominant seventh on ukulele
- Ukulele (G C E A): 2-3-2-2, barre at fret 2; it sounds A, D♯, F♯ and B.
B dominant seventh on piano
- Keys: B4, D♯5, F♯5 and A5.
Inversions of B dominant seventh
Each inversion puts a different note in the bass.
- Root position: B, D♯, F♯ and A, with B in the bass.
- First inversion (B7/D♯): D♯, F♯, A and B, with D♯ in the bass.
- Second inversion (B7/F♯): F♯, A, B and D♯, with F♯ in the bass.
- Third inversion (B7/A): A, B, D♯ and F♯, with A in the bass.
Keys that use B dominant seventh
B dominant seventh appears in 3 major and minor keys.
| Key | Degree | Function |
|---|---|---|
| E major (4 sharps) | V7 | Dominant |
| C♯ minor (4 sharps) | VII7 | Subtonic |
| E minor (harmonic minor, 1 sharp) | V7 | Dominant |
Progressions with B dominant seventh
- Jazz ii–V–I in E major (ii7–V7–Imaj7): F♯m7 – B7 – Emaj7
- 12-bar blues in E major (I7–IV7–V7): E7 – A7 – B7
- Minor cadence in E minor (i–iv–V7): Em – Am – B7
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the B dominant seventh chord?
B, D♯, F♯ and A: root, major third, perfect fifth and minor seventh. Its formula is 1-3-5-♭7.
Which keys use B dominant seventh?
Mainly as the V7 in E major and the V7 in E minor. In total it appears in 3 major and minor keys.
What chord does B dominant seventh resolve to?
As a dominant seventh, B dominant seventh (B, D♯, F♯ and A) resolves naturally to E major: its third rises a half step to the new tonic and its seventh falls to the third of the next chord.