Bmaj7 Piano Chord

Bmaj7 is the B major seventh chord. It has four notes: B, D sharp, F sharp and A sharp. Three are black keys and only the root is white.

Bmaj7 piano chord diagram, root position, B D♯ F♯ A♯

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 D♯ and F♯ and A♯.

How to play Bmaj7 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.

Only the thumb stays on a white key here; everything else is black. Let the hand sit deep in the keyboard and bring the thumb forward rather than dragging the whole hand out.

Inversions of Bmaj7

The same 4 notes with a different one at the bottom. All of them are Bmaj7; which you play depends on what the hand is coming from. Tap any card to hear it.

First inversionD♯ F♯ A♯ B
Bmaj7 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♯
Bmaj7 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♯
Bmaj7 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 top note is A natural
That gives B7, which pulls toward E. Bmaj7 needs A sharp, the black key to its right.
The thumb is dragged in with the hand
It is the only finger on a white key. Keep it forward on the front part of B while the others sit deeper.
The black keys sound uneven
They are narrow and need a central strike. Aim each fingertip at the middle of its key.

What makes it a Bmaj7

B · D♯ · F♯ · A♯ 1 3 5 7

Bmaj7 is a B major triad, B D sharp F sharp, with an A sharp added: the major seventh.

It is the I chord of B major and the IV of F sharp. Both are rare home keys, so this chord is usually met inside a progression rather than as a destination.

Bmaj7 vs B7

The top note. Bmaj7 has A sharp and rests; B7 has A natural and pulls hard toward E.

B7 is by far the more common of the two, because it is the V chord of E. Bmaj7 shows up in jazz and in songs that sit in B.

Bmaj7 in major keys

Every note of Bmaj7 sits inside these keys. See how it works alongside the other chords in each one.

Questions about Bmaj7

Which notes are in a Bmaj7 chord on piano?

B, D sharp, F sharp and A sharp. Only B is a white key.

What fingers do you use for Bmaj7?

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

What is the difference between Bmaj7 and B7?

The top note. Bmaj7 has A sharp and sits still; B7 has A natural and drives toward E.

Is Bmaj7 hard on piano?

The mix of one white key and three black ones takes a moment to settle, but the shape itself is comfortable.

Where is the Bmaj7 chord used?

As the I chord in B and the IV in F sharp, mostly in jazz.

Chords to learn next

Other B chords