Bb7 Guitar Chord
Bb Dominant 7th · also written A#7 · Bb–D–F–Ab
Bb7 is the Bb dominant 7th chord: Bb–D–F–Ab. Its sound is bluesy and unresolved — the dominant 7th wants to pull somewhere, which is why it powers blues turnarounds and V chords. It's also written as A#7 — same notes, same shapes, different spelling.
Bb7 is the V7 chord in the key of Eb, which is where its pull comes from — the ♭7 (Ab) rubs against the major 3rd and demands resolution. In a 12-bar blues in Bb, every chord (I7, IV7, V7) gets this dominant treatment.
The most common way to play Bb7 is the e7 shape at the 6th fret (6 8 6 7 6 6, low E string to high E string). Below you'll find 6 ways to play it across the neck, from open position to barre and shell voicings, with the theory behind the chord and the progressions it lives in.
How to Play Bb7: 6 Voicings
Frets are listed from the low E string to the high E string. x = don't play that string, 0 = open string.
Bb7 Chord Theory
| Interval | R | 3 | 5 | ♭7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | Bb | D | F | Ab |
Bb7 is built from the Bb major scale.
Bb7 Chord FAQ
What notes are in the Bb7 chord?
Bb7 contains 4 notes: Bb (R), D (3), F (5), Ab (♭7). The interval formula for a dominant 7th chord is R–3–5–♭7.
What is the easiest way to play Bb7 on guitar?
Use the e7 shape at the 6th fret: 6 8 6 7 6 6 (frets listed from the low E string to the high E string, x = don't play that string). Bb7 has no open-position shape in standard tuning, so this movable form is the standard starting point.
Is Bb7 a major or minor chord?
Bb7 is built on a major triad (Bb–D–F) with the ♭7 added, so it behaves as a major-family chord.
Is Bb7 the same as A#7?
Yes. Bb and A# are enharmonic equivalents — the same pitch written two ways. Bb7 and A#7 use identical shapes and frets; which spelling you see depends on the key of the song.
What keys use the Bb7 chord?
Bb7 appears diatonically in Bb major (as I), F major (as IV), and Eb major (as V) — plus G minor, its relative minor key.
Related Chords
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