Piano chord
B♭7B flat dominant seventh
- B♭1
- D3
- F5
- A♭♭7
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 10semitones
- Fingers
- 1-3-4-5
How to play B♭7 on piano
- Find B♭: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Right hand: 1 on B♭, 3 on D, 4 on F, 5 on A♭.
- Or with the left hand: 5 on B♭, 3 on D, 2 on F, 1 on A♭.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · B♭ – D – F – A♭
1st inversion · D – F – A♭ – B♭
2nd inversion · F – A♭ – B♭ – D
3rd inversion · A♭ – B♭ – D – F
Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.
B♭7 inversions
B♭7 can be played in 4 positions. In root position B♭ is at the bottom; each inversion moves the lowest note up an octave, so another chord tone becomes the bass.
- Root positionbass: B♭Right hand 1-3-4-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 1st inversionbass: DRight hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 2nd inversionbass: FRight hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-3-1
- 3rd inversionbass: A♭Right hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
Chords that go with B♭7
The other chords of E flat major, the key where B♭7 is home (V7). Songs in this key move between them.
B♭7 with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays B♭ an octave lower, the right hand plays B♭–D–F–A♭.
B♭7 on other instruments
About the B♭7 chord
B flat dominant seventh has 4 notes: B♭ (1), D (3), F (5), A♭ (♭7). A dominant seventh: a major triad with the flat seventh on top. It creates tension that wants to resolve, usually to the chord a fifth below.
On the keyboard, start from B♭ and add the other notes above it: B♭ – D – F – A♭. From the lowest to the highest key that is 10 semitones. That is less than an octave, so B♭7 sits comfortably under one hand.
Each inversion of B♭7 puts a different note in the bass. In the 1st inversion the bass is D (D–F–A♭–B♭). In the 2nd inversion the bass is F (F–A♭–B♭–D). In the 3rd inversion the bass is A♭ (A♭–B♭–D–F).
B♭7 is B♭ with one note added: A♭.
Keys that contain B♭7: E flat major (V7), C minor (VII7), E flat minor (V7).
Questions
What notes are in the B♭7 chord?
B♭7 (B flat dominant seventh) has 4 notes: B♭ (1), D (3), F (5), A♭ (♭7).
How many inversions does B♭7 have?
B♭7 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (B♭–D–F–A♭); 1st inversion (D–F–A♭–B♭); 2nd inversion (F–A♭–B♭–D); 3rd inversion (A♭–B♭–D–F).
What is the difference between B♭7 and B♭?
B♭7 is B♭ with one note added: A♭.
Can I play B♭7 with one hand?
Yes. In root position B♭7 spans 10 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.