B7 chord on guitar

B7 is B, D♯, F♯ and A. The usual shape is x-2-1-2-0-2. Hit Play and watch each string light as it sounds.

x-2-1-2-0-2 · open · medium

Notes: B · D♯ · F♯ · A
Formula: 1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7
First shape: x-2-1-2-0-2

How to play B7 on guitar

Shape 1, x-2-1-2-0-2, reading from the low E string on the left:

D♯: index finger, 1st fret of the D string.
B: middle finger, 2nd fret of the A string.
A: ring finger, 2nd fret of the G string.
F♯: pinky finger, 2nd fret of the high E string.
Leave the B string open: B.
Strum from the A string down; the low E string stays silent.

If an open string sounds dead, a fingertip is leaning on it. Come down more on the tips, with your knuckles bent.
The pinky takes a note here. Keep it curved and close to the fretboard between chords so it has less distance to travel.

Other ways to play B7

7-9-7-8-7-7: barre shape at the 7th fret, medium. The root is on the low E string, so you can slide this shape to play any dominant seventh chord.
x-2-4-2-4-2: barre shape at the 2nd fret, medium. This is the open A7 shape with a barre behind it, root on the 5th string.
x-14-13-14-12-x: movable shape at the 12th fret, medium. A small shape for quick changes and a lighter sound.

Capo shortcuts for B7

A capo turns an open chord into B7: capo on the 2nd fret and play the open A7 shape (x-0-2-0-2-0), capo on the 4th fret and play the open G7 shape (3-2-0-0-0-1) or capo on the 7th fret and play the open E7 shape (0-2-0-1-0-0). Handy when the rest of the song's chords also have open shapes in that position.

Moving between B7 and its neighbours

Songs rarely hold B7 for long. Here's what your hand does on the moves that come up most.

E (the V7 pulls home a fifth below): B7 (x-2-1-2-0-2) to E (0-2-2-1-0-0): your middle finger stays put, the index finger slides across to the G string at the same fret, the ring finger slides across to the D string at the same fret. Listen for B, which stays put while the rest moves. E on guitar
Emaj7 (I in E major): B7 (x-2-1-2-0-2) to Emaj7 (0-2-1-1-0-0): your index finger stays put, the middle finger goes to the G string, 1st fret, your ring finger lands on the A string, 2nd fret. B and D♯ carry over from one chord to the other. Emaj7 on guitar
C♯m7 (vi in E major): B7 (x-2-1-2-0-2) to C♯m7 (x-4-2-1-0-0): the index finger slides across to the G string at the same fret, the middle finger slides across to the D string at the same fret, move the ring finger to the A string, 4th fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. B carries over from one chord to the other. C♯m7 on guitar

B7 is a dominant seventh chord: a major triad with a flattened seventh on top. Use B7 where you want motion: it leans toward the chord a fifth below and turns up on almost every blues. On guitar you hear it best picked slowly, string by string.

Practice B7 in two minutes

Arpeggiate x-2-1-2-0-2 from the lowest string: B, D♯, A, B, F♯. Then strum it and listen for the same 5 notes together. Finish by moving between x-2-1-2-0-2 and 7-9-7-8-7-7 to learn two positions of the same chord.

B7 in context

In B major, I7–IV7–V7 (12 bars) on guitar is B7 (x-2-1-2-0-2), E7 (0-2-0-1-0-0) and F♯7 (2-4-2-3-2-2). About the 12-bar blues.

In E major, ii–V–I on guitar is F♯m7 (2-4-2-2-2-2), B7 (x-2-1-2-0-2) and Emaj7 (0-2-1-1-0-0). About the jazz cadence.

B7 on piano and ukulele

The same notes on another instrument: B7 on piano and B7 on ukulele. This page puts all three side by side.

Related B chords on guitar

Other dominant seventh chords

B7 on guitar: questions

What notes are in B7 on guitar?

B, D♯, F♯ and A. In the x-2-1-2-0-2 shape the strings play B (A string), D♯ (D string), A (G string), B (B string, open) and F♯ (high E string), so B is doubled.

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

The friendliest B7 shape is x-2-1-2-0-2. It uses 4 fingers and no barre, with open strings, and a capo is worth trying when the song allows.

Is B7 a barre chord on guitar?

Not the usual shape: x-2-1-2-0-2 needs no barre. The barre versions come later, higher on the neck.

Which string does B7 start on?

In the x-2-1-2-0-2 shape the lowest string you play is the A string at the 2nd fret, which is B, the root. Skip the low E string.

Shapes and sound are generated from the notes B, D♯, F♯ and A and tested automatically. Updated September 2026.