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B major 7th chord on bass (Bmaj7)
Also called or written Bmaj7 or BM7
B major 7th contains B, D♯, F♯, and A♯. The 7th-fret shape demands a wide pinky stretch across four frets.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, 7
How do you play a B major 7th chord on bass?
B major 7th is played at the 7th fret as 7 9 8 8: index finger on the E string at fret 7, pinky finger on the A string at fret 9, middle finger on the D string at fret 8 and ring finger on the G string at fret 8.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 7 | 1 | B (1) |
| 3 (A) | 9 | 4 | F♯ (5) |
| 2 (D) | 8 | 2 | A♯ (7) |
| 1 (G) | 8 | 3 | D♯ (3) |
AdvancedThe pinky must reach the 9th fret on the 3rd string while the index stays at the 7th fret, stretching the hand.
Bmaj7/F♯ inversion · fret 1
B major 7th is played at the 1st fret as 2 2 1 3: middle finger on the E string at fret 2, ring finger on the A string at fret 2, index finger on the D string at fret 1 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 3.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 2 | 2 | F♯ (5) |
| 3 (A) | 2 | 3 | B (1) |
| 2 (D) | 1 | 1 | D♯ (3) |
| 1 (G) | 3 | 4 | A♯ (7) |
Bmaj7/F♯ inversion · fret 13
B major 7th is played at the 13th fret as 14 14 13 15: middle finger on the E string at fret 14, ring finger on the A string at fret 14, index finger on the D string at fret 13 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 15.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 14 | 2 | F♯ (5) |
| 3 (A) | 14 | 3 | B (1) |
| 2 (D) | 13 | 1 | D♯ (3) |
| 1 (G) | 15 | 4 | A♯ (7) |
Bmaj7/A♯ inversion
B major 7th is played at the 4th fret as 6 6 4 4: ring finger on the E string at fret 6, pinky finger on the A string at fret 6, index finger on the D string at fret 4 and middle finger on the G string at fret 4.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 6 | 3 | A♯ (7) |
| 3 (A) | 6 | 4 | D♯ (3) |
| 2 (D) | 4 | 1 | F♯ (5) |
| 1 (G) | 4 | 2 | B (1) |
Why it sounds like that
B major 7th is built from the 1, 3, 5, and 7 of the B major scale. The major 7th interval from B to A♯ gives the chord its bright, resolved quality. Compare it to B major, which omits the A♯ and sounds more plain.
What goes wrong with B major 7th?
- Letting the pinky mute the 2nd string by lying flat.
- Allowing the index finger to roll off the 4th string.
- Plucking the 1st string too hard and making the A♯ ring out harshly.
When to use it
B major 7th is the I chord in B major, as in B–E–F♯–B, the I–IV–V–I. It works for jazz fusion, progressive rock, and atmospheric pop. Use it over B major or B 5th.
Changing to and from B major 7th
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 5th fret gives A major 7th.
- From B major 7th, move the pinky from the 3rd string 9th fret to the 2nd string 8th fret to play B major.
Which voicing to use
The 7th-fret shape places B in the bass for a strong root position. The Bmaj7/F♯ inversion at the 2nd fret has F♯ in the bass, giving a lighter feel. The Bmaj7/A♯ inversion at the 6th fret puts the leading tone A♯ in the bass, creating tension that resolves to B.
Other B chords
Common questions
How is B major 7th written?
B major 7th is written BM7 or Bmaj7.
What is the most common mistake with B major 7th?
Bassists often let the pinky collapse and buzz the 3rd string. Keep the pinky curved and press firmly.
How does B major 7th sound in a higher register?
Playing B major 7th at the 14th fret gives a brighter, more shimmering tone. The same notes ring out with less low-end weight.
Why is B major 7th sometimes confused with B major?
B major 7th adds the A♯, the major 7th, to the B major triad. That extra note creates a dreamier, more resolved sound than B major.