Guitar chord · Intermediate (barre)
B flat 7th chord (B♭7) — guitar chord chart
B♭7 is a dominant 7th chord built on B♭. Its notes are B♭, D, F, A♭. The flat 7th adds tension that wants to resolve, which is why dominant 7th chords drive blues and lead back to the home chord. It’s also written A♯7.
B♭7 chord charts
Numbers = fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little). ○ open string, × don’t play. Low E string on the left.
How to play B♭7
- Lay your index finger flat across fret 1, from the 5th string to the 1st string (the barre).
- Ring (3) on the 4th string, fret 3 (F).
- Little finger (4) on the 2nd string, fret 3 (D).
- Strum from the 5th string down; don’t play string 6.
- Pick the strings one at a time: each note should ring clearly — if one buzzes, move that finger closer to the fret.
No barre yet? Put a capo on fret 1 and play the open A7 shape — it sounds as B♭7. Work out other positions with the capo calculator.
Notes in B♭7
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B♭ | root |
| 3 | D | major 3rd |
| 5 | F | perfect 5th |
| ♭7 | A♭ | minor 7th |
Progressions with B♭7
Drill these changes with the chord-change trainer and read how to change chords faster.
FAQ
- What notes are in the B♭7 chord?
- B♭7 (B flat 7th) has 4 notes: B♭, D, F, A♭.
- Is B♭7 hard to play?
- It’s a barre chord, but with a capo on fret 1 you can use the open A7 shape instead. Expect a few weeks of practice for a clean barre.
- What’s the difference between B♭7 and B♭?
- B♭ is B♭ D F. The flat 7th adds tension that wants to resolve, which is why dominant 7th chords drive blues and lead back to the home chord.
- Is B♭7 the same as A♯7?
- Yes — they sound the same (enharmonic equivalents). Which name is used depends on the key of the song; the fingerings are identical.