Guitar chord · Intermediate (barre)
B flat major 7th chord (B♭maj7) — guitar chord chart
B♭maj7 is a major 7th chord built on B♭. Its notes are B♭, D, F, A. The major 7th, a half step under the root, gives a soft, dreamy shimmer heard in jazz, soul, bossa nova and lo-fi. It’s also written A♯maj7.
B♭maj7 chord charts
Numbers = fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little). ○ open string, × don’t play. Low E string on the left.
How to play B♭maj7
- Lay your index finger flat across fret 1, from the 5th string to the 1st string (the barre).
- Ring (3) on the 4th string, fret 3 (F).
- Middle (2) on the 3rd string, fret 2 (A).
- Little finger (4) on the 2nd string, fret 3 (D).
- Strum from the 5th string down; don’t play string 6.
- Pick the strings one at a time: each note should ring clearly — if one buzzes, move that finger closer to the fret.
No barre yet? Put a capo on fret 1 and play the open Amaj7 shape — it sounds as B♭maj7. Work out other positions with the capo calculator.
Notes in B♭maj7
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B♭ | root |
| 3 | D | major 3rd |
| 5 | F | perfect 5th |
| 7 | A | major 7th |
Progressions with B♭maj7
Drill these changes with the chord-change trainer and read how to change chords faster.
FAQ
- What notes are in the B♭maj7 chord?
- B♭maj7 (B flat major 7th) has 4 notes: B♭, D, F, A.
- Is B♭maj7 hard to play?
- It’s a barre chord, but with a capo on fret 1 you can use the open Amaj7 shape instead. Expect a few weeks of practice for a clean barre.
- What’s the difference between B♭maj7 and B♭?
- B♭ is B♭ D F. The major 7th, a half step under the root, gives a soft, dreamy shimmer heard in jazz, soul, bossa nova and lo-fi.
- Is B♭maj7 the same as A♯maj7?
- Yes — they sound the same (enharmonic equivalents). Which name is used depends on the key of the song; the fingerings are identical.