B dominant 7th chord on piano
The B dominant 7th chord is B–D#–F#–A. Tap the keys below to hear it.
B7B · D# · F# · A
Tap the keys to hear them
B7 resolves to E, and it is one of the first dominant shapes many players learn, with D# tucked under the index finger. E blues and early rock use it constantly.
How the B dominant 7th chord is built
Fingerings & inversions
Standard fingerings use the thumb (1), the little finger (5), and either the index (2) or middle finger (3). Hand size and musical context change what feels natural. Switch Fingers on above to see 1-2-3-5 land for B7.
| Position | Notes (bottom → top) | Right hand | Left hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root position | B – D# – F# – A | 1-2-3-5 | 5-3-2-1 |
| 1st inversion | D# – F# – A – B | 1-2-4-5 | 5-4-2-1 |
| 2nd inversion | F# – A – B – D# | 1-2-3-5 | 5-3-2-1 |
| 3rd inversion | A – B – D# – F# | 1-2-4-5 | 5-3-2-1 |
Inversion diagrams
The inversion buttons above play all 4 shapes of B7.
Where B7 shows up
B7 exists to point at E: the tritone between its third and its seventh, D# against A, resolves outward into the E triad.
Hear it drive a 12-bar blues in B: B7–E7–F#7.
Common questions
What notes are in the B dominant 7th chord?
The B dominant 7th chord is made up of B, D#, F#, A. D# and F# are black keys, which gives the shape its raised middle.
What fingers should I use to play B7 on piano?
In root position, the standard fingering is 1-2-3-5 in the right hand and 5-3-2-1 in the left hand (1 = thumb, 5 = little finger). B7 puts finger 2 on D#, the first of its black keys.
What's the difference between B7 and Bmaj7?
B7 has a minor 7th on top, A, which makes it sound restless and ready to resolve. Bmaj7 raises that note a half step, which sounds settled and warm instead. Same B–D#–F# triad underneath, one note apart, very different jobs.
More B chords
Reviewed by
Composer, arranger and music educator. BA Music (LIPA), MA Composition (University of Salford).
Last updated 2026-08-19