Piano chords · Major 7th chord
B♭maj7 piano chord (B♭ major seventh)
B♭maj7 (also written A♯maj7) is a major seventh chord with 4 notes. It sounds soft, dreamy and a little jazzy. Here's how to find it, play it and hear it.
B♭ – D – F – A · tap any key to hear it
The notes of B♭maj7
B♭maj7 is built from 4 notes (1 – 3 – 5 – 7):
- B♭, the root
- D, the major third
- F, the fifth
- A, the major seventh
B♭ is a black key, so keep your hand slightly further in, towards the fallboard, to reach it without stretching.
Fingering
- Right hand: 1 on B♭, 2 on D, 3 on F, 5 on A.
- Left hand: 5 on B♭, 3 on D, 2 on F, 1 on A.
Press every key at exactly the same moment, with the same weight. If one note sounds louder or a fraction late, the chord sounds uneven: play it slowly and listen for one sound.
Inversions
An inversion is the same notes in a different order, with a different note at the bottom. Inversions let you move between chords without jumping around the keyboard.
| Position | Notes, bottom to top |
|---|---|
| Root position | B♭ – D – F – A |
| 1st inversion | D – F – A – B♭ |
| 2nd inversion | F – A – B♭ – D |
| 3rd inversion | A – B♭ – D – F |
Where B♭maj7 belongs
B♭maj7 is the Imaj7 chord in B♭ major and the IVmaj7 chord in F major. It's everywhere in jazz, soul, bossa nova and gentle pop.
B♭maj7 is B♭ with a major seventh, A, added: just a half step below the root, which gives it its dreamy rub. B♭7 has a minor seventh (A♭) instead, and sounds bluesier.
Hear it in a progression
B♭maj7 – Gm7 – Cm7 – F7: Imaj7 – vi7 – ii7 – V7, a smooth jazz and soul turnaround.
Playing it, but it doesn't sound right? Ivory listens to you play and tells you what's off: a note that's missing, a hand that lands late, a chord that's uneven. Then it shows you how it should go.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the B♭maj7 chord?
B♭maj7 (B♭ major seventh) is made of B♭, D, F and A: the root, major third, fifth and major seventh.
How do you play B♭maj7 on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on B♭, 2 on D, 3 on F, 5 on A, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on B♭, 3 on D, 2 on F, 1 on A.
How is B♭maj7 different from the plain chord?
B♭maj7 is B♭ with a major seventh, A, added: just a half step below the root, which gives it its dreamy rub. B♭7 has a minor seventh (A♭) instead, and sounds bluesier.