B major seventh chord (Bmaj7)
The B major seventh chord (Bmaj7) is a major seventh chord: a major triad with a major seventh on top, B, D♯, F♯ and A♯ (root, major third, perfect fifth and major seventh).
It is the Imaj7 in B major and the IVmaj7 in F♯ major; its relative is G♯ minor seventh, and F♯ dominant seventh leads into it as its V7.
Below: voicings, notes on the fretboard, ukulele, piano, inversions and progressions.
How to play B major seventh on guitar
There are 2 guitar voicings.
Frets from the 6th string to the 1st: x = not played, 0 = open string.
- Voicing 1: x-2-4-3-4-2, barre at fret 2, with B in the bass (fingers x-1-3-2-4-1).
- Voicing 2: 7-9-8-8-7-7, movable E-shape barre chord at fret 7, with B in the bass.
Notes of the B major seventh chord on the fretboard
B major 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♯ (6) · B (7) · D♯ (11)
- String 5 (A): A♯ (1) · B (2) · D♯ (6) · F♯ (9)
- String 4 (D): D♯ (1) · F♯ (4) · A♯ (8) · B (9)
- String 3 (G): A♯ (3) · B (4) · D♯ (8) · F♯ (11)
- String 2 (B): B (0) · D♯ (4) · F♯ (7) · A♯ (11) · B (12)
- String 1 (E): F♯ (2) · A♯ (6) · B (7) · D♯ (11)
Formula and intervals of B major seventh
Its formula is 1-3-5-7; in semitones from the root, 0-4-7-11.
- 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♯: Major seventh (M7), 11 semitones above B
B major seventh on ukulele
- Ukulele (G C E A): 3-3-2-2, barre at fret 2; it sounds A♯, D♯, F♯ and B.
B major seventh on piano
- Keys: B4, D♯5, F♯5 and A♯5.
Inversions of B major seventh
Each inversion puts a different note in the bass.
- Root position: B, D♯, F♯ and A♯, with B in the bass.
- First inversion (Bmaj7/D♯): D♯, F♯, A♯ and B, with D♯ in the bass.
- Second inversion (Bmaj7/F♯): F♯, A♯, B and D♯, with F♯ in the bass.
- Third inversion (Bmaj7/A♯): A♯, B, D♯ and F♯, with A♯ in the bass.
Keys that use B major seventh
B major seventh appears in 4 major and minor keys.
| Key | Degree | Function |
|---|---|---|
| B major (5 sharps) | Imaj7 | Tonic |
| F♯ major (6 sharps) | IVmaj7 | Subdominant |
| G♯ minor (5 sharps) | IIImaj7 | Mediant |
| D♯ minor (6 sharps) | VImaj7 | Submediant |
Progressions with B major seventh
- Jazz ii–V–I in B major (ii7–V7–Imaj7): C♯m7 – F♯7 – Bmaj7
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the B major seventh chord?
B, D♯, F♯ and A♯: root, major third, perfect fifth and major seventh. Its formula is 1-3-5-7.
Which keys use B major seventh?
Mainly as the Imaj7 in B major and the IVmaj7 in F♯ major. In total it appears in 4 major and minor keys.
What is the difference between B major seventh and a dominant seventh chord?
The seventh: in B major seventh (B, D♯, F♯ and A♯) it is major, a half step below the octave, while in a dominant seventh it is minor. That is why B major seventh sounds stable, like a chord of rest, and a dominant seventh wants to resolve.