Piano chord
B♭maj7B flat major seventh
- B♭1
- D3
- F5
- A7
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 11semitones
- Fingers
- 1-2-3-5
How to play B♭maj7 on piano
- Find B♭: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Right hand: 1 on B♭, 2 on D, 3 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♭maj7 inversions
B♭maj7 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 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 1st inversionbass: DRight hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
- 2nd inversionbass: FRight hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 3rd inversionbass: ARight hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
Chords that go with B♭maj7
The other chords of B flat major, the key where B♭maj7 is home (Imaj7). Songs in this key move between them.
B♭maj7 with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays B♭ an octave lower, the right hand plays B♭–D–F–A.
B♭maj7 on other instruments
About the B♭maj7 chord
B flat major seventh has 4 notes: B♭ (1), D (3), F (5), A (7). A major seventh: a major triad with the natural seventh, one semitone below the octave. It sounds smooth and dreamy, common in jazz, soul and bossa nova.
Put your thumb on B♭ and count up: B♭ – D – F – A. The whole chord spans 11 semitones from bottom to top. That fits inside an octave, so one hand covers B♭maj7 without stretching.
The inversions of B♭maj7 keep the same notes in a new order. 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♭maj7 is B♭ with one note added: A.
B♭maj7 belongs to F major (IVmaj7), B flat major (Imaj7), D minor (VImaj7), G minor (IIImaj7).
Questions
What notes are in the B♭maj7 chord?
B♭maj7 (B flat major seventh) has 4 notes: B♭ (1), D (3), F (5), A (7).
How many inversions does B♭maj7 have?
B♭maj7 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♭maj7 and B♭?
B♭maj7 is B♭ with one note added: A.
Can I play B♭maj7 with one hand?
Yes. In root position B♭maj7 spans 11 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.