Bb7 chord (B flat dominant seventh) on bass
Bb7 (B flat dominant seventh) has four notes: B flat, D, F and A flat. Its formula is 1, 3, 5, b7. In major keys, Bb7 is the V7 chord in Eb major.
How to play Bb7 on bass
Low notes close together sound muddy, so bass players spread a chord out and leave notes out. Forms with a 3rd or 7th sound clear from about the E string's 8th fret up, so they start there; root and 5th stays low. These forms put the root on the E string; the same shapes work from the A string.
Fingers: 1 on E, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 1 on D, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 3 on D.
Hear it and see every shape in ScaleSpace →
| Symbol | Bb7 |
|---|---|
| Also written | Bbdom7 |
| Notes | Bb D F Ab |
| Formula | 1 3 5 b7 |
| Intervals | root, major third, perfect fifth, minor seventh |
| Type | Dominant seventh chord |
Bb7 across the neck
Bass · 4-string, tuned low to high: E, A, D, G. 24 frets.
- E string: fret 1 F (5), fret 4 Ab (flat 7), fret 6 Bb (1), fret 10 D (3), fret 13 F (5), fret 16 Ab (flat 7), fret 18 Bb (1), fret 22 D (3).
- A string: fret 1 Bb (1), fret 5 D (3), fret 8 F (5), fret 11 Ab (flat 7), fret 13 Bb (1), fret 17 D (3), fret 20 F (5), fret 23 Ab (flat 7).
- D string: fret 0 D (3), fret 3 F (5), fret 6 Ab (flat 7), fret 8 Bb (1), fret 12 D (3), fret 15 F (5), fret 18 Ab (flat 7), fret 20 Bb (1), fret 24 D (3).
- G string: fret 1 Ab (flat 7), fret 3 Bb (1), fret 7 D (3), fret 10 F (5), fret 13 Ab (flat 7), fret 15 Bb (1), fret 19 D (3), fret 22 F (5).
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Questions
What notes are in the Bb7 chord?
Bb7 (B flat dominant seventh) has four notes: B flat, D, F and A flat. Its formula is 1, 3, 5, b7. Bb is the root, D is the major third, F is the perfect fifth and Ab is the minor seventh.
How do you play Bb7 on bass?
Bass players spread it out rather than strum it. The simplest form is the root and 10th: 1 10, root on the E string, fret 18. Fingers: 1 on E, 2 on G.
What key is Bb7 in?
In major keys, Bb7 is the V7 chord in Eb major. It is diatonic to those keys, so it fits songs in any of them.
What is the difference between Bb7 and Bb?
Bb7 is Bb (Bb, D and F) with a flat 7th added: Ab.