Root position B♭7
B♭ – D – F – A♭
Right hand 1-2-3-5Left hand 5-3-2-1
B♭7 Chord on Piano
B♭7 B♭ D F A♭ Formula 1 3 5 b7 4 notes
Also written A♯ 7: the same keys under another name.
Notes
What notes are in the B♭7 chord?
The B♭7 chord has 4 notes: B♭, D, F, A♭. It is the major triad with a minor seventh on top (10 half steps above B♭): the dominant chord that pulls towards a key a fifth below.
| Note | Interval from the root | Half steps |
|---|---|---|
| B♭ | Root | 0 |
| D | Major 3rd | 4 |
| F | Perfect 5th | 7 |
| A♭ | Minor 7th | 10 |
Inversions and fingering
Every way to play B♭7
The same notes in a different order. The lowest note changes the name after the slash; the fingering below is the usual one - right hand from the lowest key up, left hand from the lowest key up too.
1st inversion B♭7/D
D – F – A♭ – B♭
Right hand 1-2-3-5Left hand 5-4-2-1
2nd inversion B♭7/F
F – A♭ – B♭ – D
Right hand 1-2-3-5Left hand 5-3-2-1
3rd inversion B♭7/A♭
A♭ – B♭ – D – F
Right hand 1-2-3-5Left hand 5-3-2-1
Where it lives
Keys and scales with B♭7
Every key where B♭7 is one of the seven chords, with its Roman numeral, and the scales whose notes include all of it - the ones to improvise over it.
In these keys
Scales that contain all its notes
Questions
Frequently asked
What notes are in the B♭7 chord?
The B♭7 chord (B♭7) is made of B♭, D, F, A♭. Its formula is 1 3 5 b7 - the root, then the intervals of a dominant 7th chord.
How do you play B♭7 on the piano?
Put your right thumb on B♭ and play the other notes with fingers 1-2-3-5. With the left hand, use fingers 5-3-2-1 from the lowest key up.
What are the inversions of B♭7?
root position B♭7 (B♭ D F A♭); 1st inversion B♭7/D (D F A♭ B♭); 2nd inversion B♭7/F (F A♭ B♭ D); 3rd inversion B♭7/A♭ (A♭ B♭ D F).
Is B♭7 the same as A♯ 7?
On the piano, yes: the same keys. The name changes with the key you are in - sharps in sharp keys, flats in flat keys.
Play it for real
Hold B♭7 and build a progression on it
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