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B major 7th chord on guitar (Bmaj7)
Also called or written Bmaj7 or BM7
B major 7th contains B, D♯, F♯, and A♯. The 2nd fret shape uses a barre across the second fret, making it a demanding grip.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, 7
- Root positionB–D♯–F♯–A♯Bmaj7×-2-4-3-4-2
- First inversionD♯–F♯–A♯–BBmaj7/D♯×-×-1-3-0-2
- Second inversionF♯–A♯–B–D♯Bmaj7/F♯2-1-1-3-0-×
- Third inversionA♯–B–D♯–F♯Bmaj7/A♯×-1-1-3-0-2
How do you play a B major 7th chord on guitar?
B major 7th is played at the 2nd fret as × 2 4 3 4 2: barre your index finger across fret 2, ring finger on the D string at fret 4, middle finger on the G string at fret 3 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 4. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 2 | 1 (barre) | B (1) |
| 4 (D) | 4 | 3 | F♯ (5) |
| 3 (G) | 3 | 2 | A♯ (7) |
| 2 (B) | 4 | 4 | D♯ (3) |
| 1 (e) | 2 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (5) |
AdvancedThe index barre must fret the A string and high E cleanly while the pinky reaches the 4th fret of the B string.
7th fret
B major 7th is played at the 7th fret as 7 9 8 8 7 7: barre your index finger across 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 7 | 1 (barre) | B (1) |
| 5 (A) | 9 | 4 | F♯ (5) |
| 4 (D) | 8 | 2 | A♯ (7) |
| 3 (G) | 8 | 3 | D♯ (3) |
| 2 (B) | 7 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (5) |
| 1 (e) | 7 | 1 (barre) | B (1) |
9th fret
B major 7th is played at the 9th fret as × × 9 11 11 11: index finger on the D string at fret 9, middle finger on the G string at fret 11, ring finger on the B string at fret 11 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 11. The low E and A strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | muted | — | — |
| 4 (D) | 9 | 1 | B (1) |
| 3 (G) | 11 | 2 | F♯ (5) |
| 2 (B) | 11 | 3 | A♯ (7) |
| 1 (e) | 11 | 4 | D♯ (3) |
Bmaj7/D♯ inversion · open position — the easy shape, no barre
B major 7th is played in open position as × × 1 3 0 2: index finger on the D string at fret 1, ring finger on the G string at fret 3 and middle finger on the high e string at fret 2. The B string rings open. The low E and A strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | muted | — | — |
| 4 (D) | 1 | 1 | D♯ (3) |
| 3 (G) | 3 | 3 | A♯ (7) |
| 2 (B) | open | — | B (1) |
| 1 (e) | 2 | 2 | F♯ (5) |
Bmaj7/D♯ inversion · fret 4
B major 7th is played at the 4th fret as × 6 4 4 4 6: barre your index finger across fret 4, ring finger on the A string at fret 6 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 6. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 6 | 3 | D♯ (3) |
| 4 (D) | 4 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (5) |
| 3 (G) | 4 | 1 (barre) | B (1) |
| 2 (B) | 4 | 1 (barre) | D♯ (3) |
| 1 (e) | 6 | 4 | A♯ (7) |
Why it sounds like that
B major 7th is built from the formula 1, 3, 5, 7. The major 7th interval from B to A♯ gives the chord its characteristic color. Compare it with B major, which lacks the 7th.
What goes wrong with B major 7th?
- Letting the low E string ring through adds an outside note.
- Under-barring the high E string causes a dead note.
- Flattening the middle finger onto the B string mutes the D♯.
When to use it
B major 7th is the tonic in B major, so it works in the I–IV–V–I progression B–E–F♯–B. It also suits the I–V–vi–IV of B–F♯–G♯ minor–E. Use it for jazz, pop ballads, or any style needing a smooth major sound.
Changing to and from B major 7th
- Sliding the 2nd fret shape down one fret to the 1st fret gives B♭ major 7th.
- Move to C major 7th by sliding the shape up one fret to the 3rd fret.
Which voicing to use
The 2nd fret shape keeps B as the bass note and is the default. The 7th fret shape uses a barre for a fuller sound, while the 9th fret shape drops the low strings for a lighter texture.
Other B chords
Common questions
How is B major 7th written?
B major 7th is written as BM7 or Bmaj7.
What is the difference between B major 7th and B major?
B major 7th adds the A♯, a major 7th above B. B major contains only B, D♯, and F♯.
Why does the 2nd fret shape mute the low E string?
The low E is not a chord tone, so muting it prevents an outside note from sounding.