All chords › B › Dominant

B Dominant Chords

A major triad with a flat seventh on top. These chords lean forward and want to resolve, which is what makes a turnaround work.

6 chord types · 34 playable voicings · frets 1–11 · 14 use an open string

14 of the 34 shapes below let at least one string ring open, which usually makes them easier to hold and fuller to hear than the barred equivalents. The rest are movable grips. In the keys you are most likely to meet them, these chords sit as the I of B, the IV of E, and the V of F#.

Jump to: B7 · B9 · B11 · B13 · B7add11 · B7add13

B7

BEbF#A
11 shapes · open & play
X
O
2
1
3
4
X
X
1
2
4
3
X
1
3
1
4
1
O
X
4
4
1
1
1
O
X
X
4
4
1
2
O
4
4
1
1
1
2
O
4
4
3
1
1
2
4
4
3
1
1
1
2
7
1
3
1
2
1
1
7
1
3
1
2
4
1
X
X
9
1
3
2
4

B7 is the V and the VII chord of E major and C# minor.

Progressions that actually use it: ii7 – V7 – Imaj7 (E major), Imaj7 – vi7 – ii7 – V7 (E major), I7 – IV7 – I7 – V7 (E major), vi7 – ii7 – V7 – Imaj7 (E major).

Fret and finger numbers for B7
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 2 1 2 0 2– 2 1 3 – 4
X 2 X 2 4 2– 1 – 2 4 3
X 2 4 2 4 2– 1 3 1 4 1
7 0 4 4 4 X4 – 1 1 1 –
7 0 4 X 4 X4 – 1 – 2 –
7 0 4 4 4 54 – 1 1 1 2
7 6 4 4 0 54 3 1 1 – 2
7 6 4 4 4 54 3 1 1 1 2
7 9 7 8 7 71 3 1 2 1 1
7 9 7 8 10 71 3 1 2 4 1
X X 9 11 10 11– – 1 3 2 4

B9

BEbF#AC#
5 shapes · open & play
X
2
1
3
3
3
4
4
1
1
1
1
2
4
4
1
1
3
1
2
6
2
1
3
1
4
4
7
1
3
1
2
1
4

B9 is the V and the VII chord of E major and C# minor.

Fret and finger numbers for B9
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 2 1 2 2 2– 2 1 3 3 3
7 4 4 4 4 54 1 1 1 1 2
7 4 4 6 4 54 1 1 3 1 2
7 6 7 6 7 72 1 3 1 4 4
7 9 7 8 7 91 3 1 2 1 4

B11

BEbF#AC#E
4 shapes · open & play
O
O
4
4
1
3
2
4
4
4
1
3
1
2
O
6
2
1
3
1
4
7
1
1
1
3
2
4

B11 is the V and the VII chord of E major and C# minor.

Fret and finger numbers for B11
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
7 0 4 6 4 04 – 1 3 2 –
7 7 4 6 4 54 4 1 3 1 2
7 6 7 6 7 02 1 3 1 4 –
7 7 7 8 7 91 1 1 3 2 4

B13

BEbF#AC#G#
3 shapes · open & play
O
4
4
1
3
1
1
5
3
2
2
2
4
1
7
1
3
1
2
4
4

B13 is the V and the VII chord of E major and C# minor.

Fret and finger numbers for B13
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
7 0 4 6 4 44 – 1 3 1 1
7 6 6 6 7 53 2 2 2 4 1
7 9 7 8 9 91 3 1 2 4 4

B7add11

BEbF#AE
6 shapes · open & play
X
O
1
3
2
4
X
1
1
1
3
2
O
O
4
4
1
1
1
4
3
4
1
1
1
2
O
7
1
1
1
3
2
7
1
1
1
4
2
3

B7add11 is the V and the VII chord of E major and C# minor.

Fret and finger numbers for B7add11
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 2 4 2 4 0– 1 3 2 4 –
X 2 2 2 4 2– 1 1 1 3 2
7 0 4 4 4 04 – 1 1 1 –
7 7 4 4 4 53 4 1 1 1 2
7 7 7 8 7 01 1 1 3 2 –
7 7 7 8 7 71 1 1 4 2 3

B7add13

BEbF#AG#
5 shapes · open & play
O
4
4
1
1
1
1
O
X
6
2
1
4
3
O
6
2
1
4
3
3
7
1
3
1
2
4
1
X
7
1
3
1
2
4

B7add13 is the V and the VII chord of E major and C# minor.

Fret and finger numbers for B7add13
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
7 0 4 4 4 44 – 1 1 1 1
7 0 6 8 7 X2 – 1 4 3 –
7 0 6 8 7 72 – 1 4 3 3
7 9 7 8 9 71 3 1 2 4 1
7 9 7 8 9 X1 3 1 2 4 –

Every chord above has an open & play link that opens it in the interactive dictionary, where you can hear it and step through the shapes. You can also work backwards from a shape you are already holding.