Bb7 Piano Chord

Bb7 is the B flat dominant seventh chord. It has four notes: B flat, D, F and A flat. The root and the seventh are black keys and the two in the middle are white.

1B♭2D3F5A♭C3C4

B♭ at the bottom, then D and F and A♭. Right hand 1-2-3-5, left hand 5-3-2-1. The black keys are B♭ and A♭.

How to play Bb7 on piano, step by step

  1. Start on the B♭ below middle C. That is the lowest note of the chord.
  2. Thumb (1): B♭
  3. Index finger (2): D
  4. Middle finger (3): F
  5. Little finger (5): A♭
  6. Press them together with the right hand. The left hand plays the same notes with fingers 5, 3, 2, 1 an octave lower, or just B♭ on its own as a bass note.

The thumb and the little finger both sit on black keys here, with white keys between them. Let the hand sit deep in the keyboard so the outer fingers do not have to reach back.

Inversions of Bb7

The same 4 notes with a different one at the bottom. All of them are Bb7; which you play depends on what the hand is coming from. Tap any card to hear it.

First inversionD F A♭ B♭
Bb7 piano chord diagram, first inversion, D F A♭ B♭
Lighter than root position and less final. A third in the bass tips the chord forward, which is why it usually sits between two other chords rather than at the end of a line.
Second inversionF A♭ B♭ D
Bb7 piano chord diagram, second inversion, F A♭ B♭ D
Open and slightly unresolved. A fifth in the bass makes the chord sound like a step on the way somewhere, which is mostly how it is used.
Third inversionA♭ B♭ D F
Bb7 piano chord diagram, third inversion, A♭ B♭ D F
The most restless of the four. The seventh is the note that wants to move, and putting it underneath the whole chord makes that pull impossible to miss.

If it sounds wrong

The thumb slides off
A thumb on a black key needs the hand further into the keyboard. Move the arm forward instead of stretching.
The top note is A natural
It has to be A flat, the black key to its left. A natural would give Bbmaj7.
The chord feels lopsided
Two fingers deep on black keys and two forward on white ones puts the hand at an angle. That is normal here; keep the wrist loose.

What makes it a Bb7

B♭ · D · F · A♭ 1 3 5 ♭7

Bb7 is a B flat major triad, B flat D F, with an A flat added: the flat seventh.

It is the V7 of E flat, and the IV chord of a blues in F. B flat is a horn key, so this chord belongs to jazz, soul and swing far more than to guitar music.

Bb7 vs Bb

Bb7 is B flat major with an A flat on top. The added note turns a settled chord into one that leans toward E flat.

In jazz that lean is used constantly: B flat 7 to E flat is the same move as G7 to C, in a key that suits horns.

Questions about Bb7

Which notes are in a Bb7 chord on piano?

B flat, D, F and A flat. B flat and A flat are black keys; D and F are white.

What fingers do you use for Bb7?

Right hand: thumb on B flat, index on D, middle on F, little finger on A flat. Left hand: 5, 3, 2, 1.

What is the difference between Bb7 and Bbmaj7?

The top note. Bb7 has A flat and pulls toward E flat; Bbmaj7 has A natural and sits still.

Where is the Bb7 chord used?

As the V7 of E flat and as the IV chord in a blues in F. Jazz and soul use it constantly.

Is Bb7 hard on piano?

The thumb on a black key takes a little getting used to. Once the hand sits further in, the shape is comfortable.

Chords to learn next

Other Bb chords