B♭ dominant 7th chord on piano
B♭7 is a dominant 7th chord built on B♭. It uses the notes B♭ - D - F - A♭ and sounds bluesy with a strong pull toward the next chord. It is also written as A♯ dominant 7th.
- Notes
- B♭ D F A♭
- Formula
- 1 - 3 - 5 - ♭7
- Right hand fingering
- 1 - 2 - 3 - 5
- Left hand fingering
- 5 - 3 - 2 - 1
- Chord symbol
- B♭7
How to play B♭7 step by step
- Find B♭. B♭ is the last black key in each group of three. The same key is also called A♯.
- Add D, 4 half steps above B♭.
- Add F, 7 half steps above B♭.
- Add A♭, 10 half steps above B♭.
- Press all 4 keys together with fingers 1 - 2 - 3 - 5 of your right hand. Keep your wrist level and let the weight of your arm do the work.
B♭7 inversions
An inversion uses the same notes in a different order. Inversions let your hand move less between chords, which is how pianists make chord changes sound smooth.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the B♭ dominant 7th chord?
The B♭ dominant 7th chord (B♭7) contains 4 notes: B♭, D, F, A♭. Its formula is 1 - 3 - 5 - ♭7.
How do you play B♭7 on piano?
Put your right-hand thumb on B♭ and play B♭, D, F, A♭ together using fingers 1 - 2 - 3 - 5. With the left hand, use fingers 5 - 3 - 2 - 1.
Is B♭ dominant 7th the same as A♯ dominant 7th?
Yes. B♭ dominant 7th and A♯ dominant 7th use exactly the same piano keys. The name you see depends on the key signature of the piece.