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B7 Guitar Chord

B7 guitar chord: see the fingering, compare positions, and hear it before you play.

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Shape 1/2
Chord shapes:(2 positions)
B7Guitar fingering diagram for B71234×2134STRING6ª×5ªB4ªD#3ªA2ªB1ªF#
View HD sheet

What sets B7 apart

B7 is built from B, D#, F# and A. B is the root, D# the major third, F# the fifth and A the minor seventh. Said aloud, its notes are B, D sharp, F sharp and A.

From the low string to the high one you hear B, D#, A, B and F#. The root, B, shows up twice in the main shape. The lowest note is B on string 5 and the highest is F# on string 1.

In B7, string 2 is played open and adds B. String 6 stays silent. Everything fits between frets 1 and 2. The second shape on this page starts at fret 7.

B9 is one change away. String 2 is pressed at fret 2, bringing in C#, the ninth of B9. It shares two notes with G#m, B and D#. Going to B, two positions stay the same.

B7 shows up in two keys. In E major it is the V7 and in E minor the V7. Further down there is a song that uses it.

Chord Progressions

Harmonic circles featuring the B7 chord:

01E E - C#m - F#m - B702Em Em - C - Am - B7
Music Theory & Formula

Component notes and harmonic structure (B7)

Formula: Dominant Seventh (1 - 3 - 5 - ♭7)
Constituent chord intervals:

B 1D# 3F# 5A ♭7

Root Bass (Fundamental String)5th String (A) • Fret 2 (B)

String Control (Muted & Active)5 / 6 • 1 X Muted

2 Fretboard Positions

Other fretboard positions for B7:

01

Standard

Standard Position
5 / 6 stringsRoot: 5th String (A)
String Control (Muted & Active):
6th String (Low E)
×Muted
Do not play
Root
5th String (A)
Fret 2Finger 2
BDegree 1
4th String (D)
Fret 1Finger 1
D#Degree 3
3rd String (G)
Fret 2Finger 3
ADegree ♭7
2nd String (B)
○Open
BDegree 1
1st String (High E)
Fret 2Finger 4
F#Degree 5

Placement tip: Press: 5th String (A) at fret 2 with your Middle finger, 4th String (D) at fret 1 with your Index finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 2 with your Ring finger, 1st String (High E) at fret 2 with your Pinky finger. Play open: 2nd String (B). Don't play: 6th String (Low E).

02

Barre 7

Barre fret 7
6 / 6 stringsRoot: 6th String (Low E)
String Control (Muted & Active):
Root
6th String (Low E)
Fret 7Barre
BDegree 1
5th String (A)
Fret 9
F#Degree 5
4th String (D)
Fret 7Barre
ADegree ♭7
3rd String (G)
Fret 8
D#Degree 3
2nd String (B)
Fret 7Barre
F#Degree 5
1st String (High E)
Fret 7Barre
BDegree 1

Placement tip: Barre fret 7. Press: 5th String (A) at fret 9, 3rd String (G) at fret 8.

Biomechanics & Posture

Ergonomic tips to play without tension or fatigue (B7)

Standard Position
Key Principle:

Finger 2 on string 5 fret 2, finger 1 on string 4 fret 1, finger 3 on string 3 fret 2, and finger 4 on string 1 fret 2. String 2 rings open.

Thumb Placement: Centered behind fret 1.5 at mid-neck height.

Most Common Beginner Mistake:

Muting the open B string because the fleshy pad of finger 3 or finger 4 droops sideways against it.

Immediate Solution: Damp the 6th string with the top tip of finger 2. Curve fingers 3 and 4 into high vertical arches, and pick string 2 to ensure it rings cleanly.

The shape in numbers

ItemIn this chord
Frets1 to 2
Fretting fingers4
Open2nd
Muted6th

What to check

The open 2nd string sits next to a fretting finger.

What every chord shares is in the fingering reading.

Transitions & Pivot Fingers

Most common chord transitions from B7

Listen: B7 → B · E · Am

  1. B7
  2. B
  3. B7
  4. E
  5. B7
  6. Am
B7 → B01
Pivot / Anchor Finger:2 shared positions
Stay in place
  • string 5, fret 2
  • string 1, fret 2
Move
  • string 4, fret 4
  • string 3, fret 4
  • string 2, fret 4
B7 → E02
Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 finger stays
Stay in place
  • finger 2: string 5, fret 2
Move
  • finger 3: string 4, fret 2
  • finger 1: string 3, fret 1
B7 → Am03
Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 finger stays
Stay in place
  • finger 3: string 3, fret 2
Move
  • finger 2: string 4, fret 2
  • finger 1: string 2, fret 1

B7 in every key

B7 sits in the scale of 2 keys.

Main shape at a glance

Difficulty
2/5
Highest fret
2
Frets the hand covers
2
Barre
No
Strings that ring
5/6
Fretting fingers
4

Major keys

Minor keys

B7 on other instruments

PianoThe same notes on the keyboard.UkuleleB7 on four strings, with sound.BassB7 as a low-register arpeggio.All togetherHear guitar, piano, bass and violin together.
Songs with this chord

Famous songs featuring this chord (B7)

Well-known songs where this chord plays a clear role

01"Folsom Prison Blues"Johnny Cash • 1955Works as the dominant and leads back to the tonic (E - A - B7).
Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about the chord (B7)

The questions that come up most when playing this chord

Which strings are played and which are muted in the B7 chord?

To play the B7 chord on guitar, only 5 strings are played, from string 5 to string 1. Muted strings must be gently dampened with the fleshy side of a fretting finger to prevent dissonance.

What is the root bass note of the B7 chord and on which string is it located?

The primary bass note of the B7 chord is its root note: B. In standard guitar tuning (EADGBe), this bass note is located on string 5 at fret 2.

When strumming or fingerpicking, strike this string first.

What notes make up the B7 chord and what is its formula?

The B7 chord is constructed using the 1 - 3 - 5 - ♭7 formula (Dominant Seventh). Its constituent pitches are B, D#, F#, A.

How do you prevent the B7 chord from buzzing or sounding muted?

To prevent the B7 chord from buzzing or sounding muted, press the strings using the tips of your fingers at a strict 90-degree hammer angle. Position each finger immediately behind the fret wire with your thumb centered behind the neck.

What famous songs use the B7 chord?

"Folsom Prison Blues" (Johnny Cash, 1955). Works as the dominant and leads back to the tonic (E - A - B7).

Study sheet · High resolution

Official B7 chord diagram

B7 guitar chord diagram with fingering for fingers 1 to 4
Download HD sheetView circle (E)→

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Other chords in the B family:

Chord B Chord Bb Chord Bm Chord Bbm Chord Bb7 Chord Bmaj7 Chord Bbmaj7 Chord Bm7