Explore chords · Ukulele
B 7th chord on ukulele (B7)
Also called or written B7, B, B Dominant 7th or B Major Minor 7th
B 7th contains B, D♯, F♯, and A. The 4th fret shape requires a wide stretch across four frets, making it a challenging grip.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, ♭7
- Root positionB–D♯–F♯–AB711-11-11-12
- First inversionD♯–F♯–A–BB7/D♯2-3-2-2
- Second inversionF♯–A–B–D♯B7/F♯4-6-5-6
- Third inversionA–B–D♯–F♯B7/A8-9-7-9
How do you play a B 7th chord on ukulele?
B 7th is played at the 4th fret as 4 6 5 6: index finger on the G string at fret 4, ring finger on the C string at fret 6, middle finger on the E string at fret 5 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 6.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 4 | 1 | B (1) |
| 3 (C) | 6 | 3 | F♯ (5) |
| 2 (E) | 5 | 2 | A (♭7) |
| 1 (A) | 6 | 4 | D♯ (3) |
AdvancedThe 4th fret shape demands a wide stretch from the index on the 4th string to the pinky on the 1st string, spanning four frets.
B7/A inversion
B 7th is played at the 7th fret as 8 9 7 9: middle finger on the G string at fret 8, ring finger on the C string at fret 9, index finger on the E string at fret 7 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 9.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 8 | 2 | D♯ (3) |
| 3 (C) | 9 | 3 | A (♭7) |
| 2 (E) | 7 | 1 | B (1) |
| 1 (A) | 9 | 4 | F♯ (5) |
11th fret
B 7th is played at the 11th fret as 11 11 11 12: barre your index finger across fret 11 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 12.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 11 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (5) |
| 3 (C) | 11 | 1 (barre) | B (1) |
| 2 (E) | 11 | 1 (barre) | D♯ (3) |
| 1 (A) | 12 | 4 | A (♭7) |
B7/D♯ inversion
B 7th is played at the 2nd fret as 2 3 2 2: index finger on the G string at fret 2, pinky finger on the C string at fret 3, middle finger on the E string at fret 2 and ring finger on the A string at fret 2.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 2 | 1 | A (♭7) |
| 3 (C) | 3 | 4 | D♯ (3) |
| 2 (E) | 2 | 2 | F♯ (5) |
| 1 (A) | 2 | 3 | B (1) |
Why it sounds like that
B 7th is built from the formula 1, 3, 5, ♭7 on the root B. The ♭7, A, gives the chord its dominant pull. Compare it with B major, which lacks the ♭7.
What goes wrong with B 7th?
- Letting the pinky collapse and deaden the 1st string.
- Allowing the ring finger to touch the 2nd string, muffling the F♯.
- Pressing the index too flat so the 4th string buzzes.
When to use it
B 7th is the V chord in E major, resolving to E major in the I–IV–V–I progression E–A–B–E. It also appears in the I–V–vi–IV progression E–B–C♯m–A. Use B 7th for blues, rock, and folk tunes that need a dominant pull.
Changing to and from B 7th
- Sliding the shape down one fret to the 3rd fret gives B♭ 7th.
- Sliding the shape up one fret to the 5th fret gives C 7th.
Which voicing to use
The 4th fret shape has B in the bass and is the root position. The B7/A inversion at the 2nd fret puts A in the bass and is easier to grab quickly. The B7/F♯ inversion at the 11th fret has F♯ in the bass and uses a barre.
Other B chords
Common questions
How is B 7th written?
B 7th is written as B7. The symbols B and B7 both refer to this chord. It is also called Dominant 7th or Major Minor 7th.
What is the difference between B 7th and B major?
B major contains B, D♯, and F♯. B 7th adds the ♭7, A, which creates tension that resolves to E major.
Can I play B 7th with open strings?
No, B 7th has no open-string voicing. The easiest shape is the B7/A inversion at the 2nd fret.