Piano chords · Major 7th chord
Bmaj7 piano chord (B major seventh)
Bmaj7 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 Bmaj7
Bmaj7 is built from 4 notes (1 – 3 – 5 – 7):
- B, the root
- D♯, the major third
- F♯, the fifth
- A♯, the major seventh
D♯ and F♯ and A♯ are black keys, so keep your hand slightly further in, towards the fallboard, to reach them 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 Bmaj7 belongs
Bmaj7 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.
Bmaj7 is B with a major seventh, A♯, added: just a half step below the root, which gives it its dreamy rub. B7 has a minor seventh (A) instead, and sounds bluesier.
Hear it in a progression
Bmaj7 – G♯m7 – C♯m7 – F♯7: 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 Bmaj7 chord?
Bmaj7 (B major seventh) is made of B, D♯, F♯ and A♯: the root, major third, fifth and major seventh.
How do you play Bmaj7 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 Bmaj7 different from the plain chord?
Bmaj7 is B with a major seventh, A♯, added: just a half step below the root, which gives it its dreamy rub. B7 has a minor seventh (A) instead, and sounds bluesier.