B-flat dominant seventh

Bb7 Piano Voicings

Bb7 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 Bb7 one of the four core shapes to drill.

Drill Bb7 in all 12 keys

The notes in Bb7

  • Bb R
  • D 3
  • F 5
  • Ab ♭7

Bb7 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

Bb · D · F · Ab R · 3 · 5 · ♭7

Shell Voicing

Bb · D · Ab R · 3 · ♭7

Rootless A

D · F · Ab · C 3 · 5 · ♭7 · 9

Rootless B

Ab · C · D · F ♭7 · 9 · 3 · 5

Where Bb7 fits in a ii-V-I

Bb7 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 Bb7 one of the four core shapes to drill.

The fastest way to internalise Bb7 is to drill it in context across all 12 keys until the shape is automatic.

Practice the full ii-V-I progression

Bb7 — frequently asked questions

What notes are in Bb7?

Bb7 contains Bb, D, F, Ab — root, major third, perfect fifth and flat seventh. The flat seventh is what makes it a dominant chord.

What is the shell voicing for Bb7?

The Bb7 shell voicing is root, third and flat seventh. The third and seventh — the guide tones — carry the dominant sound.

Why does Bb7 sound unresolved?

The major third and flat seventh of Bb7 form a tritone, an unstable interval that pulls strongly toward resolution.