How to play B7 Chord on Piano – B Dominant 7

Let’s learn how to play a B7 chord on piano. To form the chord, B7, combine the root, major third, perfect fifth and flat seventh of the B major scale. The notes of the B major scale are B – C# – D# – E – F# – G# – A#. Using the 7 chord formula, 1 – 3 – 5- 7b, the notes used in B7 is B – D# – F# – A. Note that the 7th note of the scale is lowered by a semitone. So instead of playing A#, the note A is played.

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Common names for this chord are B7, B dominant 7 and B dom7.

There is a lot of tension in a dominant seventh chord. When you play the chord, B7 the chord “wants” to move to another chord which is a perfect fourth above it. This chord is E because E is a perfect fourth above B. Playing E after playing B7 is not a must but it is the most natural and likely chord to play after.

The diagram below shows the B dom7 chord in all possible inversions/voicings. B7 chord on piano, B seventh

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The notes of the B7th chord in root position are B – D# – F# – A. But this chord has other voicings and can be played in different inversions. To form the first inversion of this chord move B one octave higher and the sequence of notes now becomes D – F# – A – B. To form the second inversion of B7, move D one octave higher and the sequence of notes now becomes F# – A – B – D. Lastly, to form the third inversion of the B dominant seventh chord, move F# one octave higher and the new sequence is A – B – D – F#. For every voicing of this chord the notes played are B, D#, F# and A. The notes do not change, only their sequence.

A B7 chord is actually made up of a major third and two major thirdintervals. B to D# is a major interval consisting of 4 semitones. D# to F# is a minor third interval consisting of 3 semitones. F# to A is a minor interval consisting of 3 semitones.

To learn how to play other dominant seventh piano chords visit our main piano chords page. Return from B7 Chord to main Piano Chords page. You can learn the notes for dominant seventh piano chords in all keys.

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