B7 Guitar Chord

B7 is a dominant 7th chord made of B · D♯ · F♯ · A. Major triad + minor 7th — tension that wants to resolve to the next chord. The standard shape is an open chord: x21202 (6th string → 1st string, x = don't play, 0 = open string).

Chord charts

Open chord · x21202

Fret 2 barre · root on 5th string · x24242

Fret 7 barre · root on 6th string · 797877 · from fret 7

Index finger on string 4 (D), fret 1.
Middle finger on string 5 (A), fret 2.
Ring finger on string 3 (G), fret 2.
Pinky finger on string 1 (e), fret 2.
Let string 2 ring open.
Don't play string 6 (or mute lightly).
Strum down from string 5.

B7 guitar chord chart — open chord x21202 and 2 more shapes — All B7 shapes on one image — long-press (or right-click) to save it.

Notes in the chord

B
rootD♯
3rdF♯
5thA
7th

Play it easier with a capo

Capo on fret 2 + A7 shape → sounds as B7
Capo on fret 4 + G7 shape → sounds as B7
Capo on fret 7 + E7 shape → sounds as B7

If barre chords are hard, clamp a capo and play an open shape — it sounds exactly the same. The Buskermate app can move a whole chord sheet to any capo position for you.

Try it: capo on

Scales that fit

Other B chords

B Bm B7 Bmaj7 Bm7 B6 Bm6 Bsus4 Bsus2 B7sus4 Bdim Bdim7 Bm7b5 Baug Badd9 B9 Bm9 Bmaj9

Dominant 7th chords in other keys

C7 C♯7 D7 E♭7 E7 F7 F♯7 G7 A♭7 A7 B♭7 B7

FAQ

What notes are in the B7 chord?

The B7 chord is made of B, D♯, F♯, A. Major triad + minor 7th — tension that wants to resolve to the next chord.

What's the easiest way to play B7 on guitar?

The standard shape, from the 6th string to the 1st, is x21202 (an open chord). If the barre is hard, put a capo on fret 2 and play a A7 shape — it sounds the same.

Which scale works for soloing over B7?

B mixolydian or B blues fits well.

🎸 Transpose a whole chord sheet — Buskermate
Upload a PDF song sheet and Buskermate reads the chords and moves them to any key or capo position (the app is in Korean for now).