B flat seventh piano chord (Bb7)
Also written A#7 (A sharp seventh)
The seventh chord (dominant seventh) adds a minor seventh to the major chord. It creates tension that wants to resolve: essential in blues, jazz and rock’n’roll.
On the keyboard
Root position
- Notes
- B♭ – D – F – A♭
- Fingering (right hand)
- 1 – 2 – 3 – 5
1st inversion
- Notes
- D – F – A♭ – B♭
- Fingering (right hand)
- 1 – 2 – 3 – 5
2nd inversion
- Notes
- F – A♭ – B♭ – D
- Fingering (right hand)
- 1 – 2 – 3 – 5
3rd inversion
- Notes
- A♭ – B♭ – D – F
- Fingering (right hand)
- 1 – 2 – 3 – 5
Chord notes
| Note | Interval |
|---|---|
| B♭ (B flat) | root |
| D | major third |
| F | perfect fifth |
| A♭ (A flat) | minor seventh |
Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – b7 · B♭ – D – F – A♭
A progression with this chord
The ii – V – I: the seventh chord (V7) builds tension that resolves to the tonic chord (I).