B dominant seventh
B7 Piano Voicings
B7 is a dominant chord: the V that wants to resolve. Its flat seventh creates the tension at the heart of every ii-V-I, making B7 one of the four core shapes to drill.
Drill B7 in all 12 keysThe notes in B7
- B R
- D# 3
- F# 5
- A ♭7
B7 voicings on piano
Each voicing is the exact shape the trainer drills. Press play to hear it — as a block chord or rolled note by note.
Root Position
B · D# · F# · A R · 3 · 5 · ♭7
Shell Voicing
B · D# · A R · 3 · ♭7
Rootless A
D# · F# · A · C# 3 · 5 · ♭7 · 9
Rootless B
A · C# · D# · F# ♭7 · 9 · 3 · 5
Where B7 fits in a ii-V-I
B7 is a dominant chord: the V that wants to resolve. Its flat seventh creates the tension at the heart of every ii-V-I, making B7 one of the four core shapes to drill.
The fastest way to internalise B7 is to drill it in context across all 12 keys until the shape is automatic.
Practice the full ii-V-I progressionB7 — frequently asked questions
What notes are in B7?
B7 contains B, D#, F#, A — root, major third, perfect fifth and flat seventh. The flat seventh is what makes it a dominant chord.
What is the shell voicing for B7?
The B7 shell voicing is root, third and flat seventh. The third and seventh — the guide tones — carry the dominant sound.
Why does B7 sound unresolved?
The major third and flat seventh of B7 form a tritone, an unstable interval that pulls strongly toward resolution.