B7, also called B dominant seventh, contains B, D♯, F♯ and A. Use the piano diagram to find the notes and compare root position with three inversions.
The B7 chord combines a major triad with a minor seventh.
Preserve the written chord spelling shown here; keyboard equivalence does not rename the chord.
Choose a position to keep the four written notes, sounding keys, bass note, playback and print reference synchronized.
For root position, play B, D♯, F♯ and A from low to high. Switch positions to compare inversions, or play the notes one at a time.
B7 uses 1–3–5–♭7: B–D♯–F♯–A.
a major triad plus a minor seventh
Compared with B major, add the minor seventh above the root.
A seventh chord has four chord tones and therefore four positions: root position plus three inversions. The slash symbol identifies the written bass note.
| Position | Symbol | Notes, low to high | Bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root position, current selection | B7 | B3–D♯4–F♯4–A4 | B3 |
| First inversion | B7/D♯ | D♯4–F♯4–A4–B4 | D♯4 |
| Second inversion | B7/F♯ | F♯4–A4–B4–D♯5 | F♯4 |
| Third inversion | B7/A | A4–B4–D♯5–F♯5 | A4 |
Finger numbers are not included. The diagrams show note positions, not a prescribed hand shape.
Use the written notes, keyboard positions and playback without treating the diagram as a required hand shape.
Read left- and right-hand finger numbersOpen Music Theory
Supports: Dominant Seventh chord construction, written spelling and inversion principles
Scope: Supports theory and spelling only; keyboard layouts are PianoGrid examples, and no fingering is assigned.
B7 is a B dominant seventh chord, made up of B, D♯, F♯ and A.
1–3–5–♭7.
Three inversions, in addition to root position.
Select the four pitch classes that make B7, then check your answer.
This one-octave exercise checks the exact four-note pitch-class set. Order and inversion do not affect the result; missing and extra notes are reported, while fingering and live performance are not assessed.
One octave, C through B. Select a key again to remove it.
Chord tones: B–D♯–F♯–A · Formula: 1, 3, 5, ♭7
Dots mark the notes to play. C4 is middle C. Numbers identify octaves, not fingers.