B7 7-string bass chord

How to play B7 on 7-string bass

The most common way, the first shape above: your middle finger on the E string at the 2nd fret, your ring finger on the A string at the 2nd fret, your index finger on the D string at the 1st fret and your little finger on the G string at the 2nd fret. Let the B string ring open. Don’t play the C and F strings.

From the B string 0 2 2 1 2 x x (x: not played, 0: open)

What notes are in B7?

B7, B dominant seventh, is B, D♯, F♯ and A: the root (B), the major third (D♯), the perfect fifth (F♯) and the minor seventh (A). Its formula is 1 3 5 ♭7.

Are B7 and Bmaj7 the same?

No. Both add a seventh to B, but B7 adds the minor seventh, A, and Bmaj7 the major seventh, A♯. B7 sounds restless and wants to move on; Bmaj7 sounds settled and dreamy.

Can I play B instead of B7?

Usually, yes: the song still works, with less pull. B7 is a dominant seventh, the V7 of E major, and its D♯ and A lead straight into E.

Keys with B7

B7 is the V7 chord in E major and the VII7 chord in C♯ minor, and the V7 of E minor, the major fifth chord from its harmonic minor scale.