B7 Guitar Chord

B7 is the B dominant seventh chord. It has four notes: B, D♯, F♯ and A. For most players it is the first new chord after the beginner set, and the good news is you do not need a barre to play it.

B7 guitar chord diagram, standard, played x21202

The standard shape and the one to learn first. Four fingers, no barre.

How to play B7, step by step

  1. Middle finger: 2nd fret, A string
  2. Index finger: 1st fret, D string
  3. Ring finger: 2nd fret, G string
  4. Pinky: 2nd fret, high E string
  5. Leave the B string open. Strum from the A string down, skipping the low E.

Easy B7 for beginners (no barre)

The standard B7 already needs no barre, which is why most players learn it long before B major. If four fingers at once is too much at first, use the easier shapes below and grow into the full chord.

The 3-finger version drops the pinky and high E string, so it leaves out the fifth (F♯). The 2-finger version is the smallest B7 that still works. Use it for your first week, then come back.

Neither easy shape is wrong. The root, third and seventh (B, D♯ and A) define B7; the fuller shapes add the fifth and doubled notes for a bigger sound.

More ways to play B7

There are 6 common B7 shapes in total: the standard one at the top of the page, plus these, easiest first. You only ever need one. Tap any card to hear it.

Easier, 3 fingers
B7 guitar chord diagram, easier, 3 fingers, played x2120x

Almost identical, just a little thinner at the top.

Easiest, 2 fingers
B7 guitar chord diagram, easiest, 2 fingers, played xx120x

Light and small. It works inside a song, but sounds thin on its own.

Barre at fret 2
B7 guitar chord diagram, barre at fret 2, played x24242

Rounder and more compact, without the jangle of open strings.

Barre at fret 7
B7 guitar chord diagram, barre at fret 7, played 797877

The biggest sound here. All six strings ringing, bottom to top.

Compact, frets 9 to 11
B7 guitar chord diagram, compact, frets 9 to 11, played x x 9 11 10 11

Bright and cutting, high up the neck, with no bass underneath.

Songs that use the B7 chord

If it buzzes or sounds dead

Low E rings out
Let the tip of your middle finger touch it lightly, or start the strum from the A string.
Open B string sounds muted
Curl the ring finger and pinky so they press with their tips. Flat fingers lean on the B string and kill it.
Buzzing notes
Move each finger back right behind its fret and press with the fingertip, not the pad.

What makes it a B7

B · D♯ · F♯ · A 1 3 5 ♭7

B7 is a dominant seventh: a B major triad (B, D♯, F♯) plus a minor seventh (A). That added note creates tension that wants to resolve to E. This is why B7 appears in nearly every song in the key of E, and it also resolves to E minor as the V chord of that key.

B vs B7

B major has three notes; B7 adds an A. On guitar the practical difference is bigger: B major needs a barre, B7 has an open shape. If a song in E asks for B and your barre is not ready, B7 usually works.

B7 in major keys

Every note of B7 sits inside these keys. See how it works alongside the other chords in each one.

B7 chord questions

Is B7 harder than B?

No. B7 has an open shape most beginners manage in their first months. Full B major needs a barre, so B7 is usually learned first.

Do you strum the low E string in B7?

No. The low E is not part of the chord. Start the strum from the A string, or mute the low E with your middle fingertip.

Do the easy B7 shapes sound worse?

Thinner, not wrong. The 2-finger and 3-finger versions keep the root, third and seventh: B, D sharp and A. They omit the fifth, F sharp, while the full shapes add it and double other notes for a bigger sound.

Can I play B7 without a barre?

Yes. The standard open B7 (x21202) has no barre, and there are 3-finger and 2-finger versions.

What does B7 resolve to?

E. B7 is the dominant (V) chord of E major, of E blues, and of E minor.

Chords to learn next

Other B chords