B♭ major seventh (B♭maj7) chord on piano

The B♭ major seventh chord (B♭maj7) is a major seventh chord (a major triad plus a major seventh), made of four notes: B♭ – D – F – A. The same chord with a different spelling: A♯ major seventh (A♯maj7).

Root position: B♭3 – D4 – F4 – A4

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What the B♭maj7 chord sounds like

The major seventh chord sounds soft, dreamy and a little jazzy. The major seventh sits a half step below the root, so it rubs gently against it without needing to resolve.

Notes of the B♭maj7 chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	B♭	root
3	D	major third (4 semitones)
5	F	perfect fifth (7 semitones)
7	A	major seventh (11 semitones)

Root position and inversions

An inversion uses the same notes, with a different note at the bottom. When you change chords, choosing the nearest inversion keeps your hand almost still.

Root position

B♭3 – D4 – F4 – A4

1st inversion

D4 – F4 – A4 – B♭4

2nd inversion

F4 – A4 – B♭4 – D5

3rd inversion

A4 – B♭4 – D5 – F5

Which keys is it in?

The B♭maj7 chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

B♭ major: Imaj7 (tonic)
F major: IVmaj7 (subdominant)
G minor: IIImaj7
D minor: VImaj7

Similar chords and substitutes

If B♭maj7 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

Gm7 – relative minor seventh: three shared notes
Dm7 – mediant minor seventh: three shared notes
B♭6 – another tonic colour, more vintage and swingy

Simpler versions

B♭ – all 3 of its notes are in this chord

Richer versions

B♭maj9 – the same chord plus 1 colour note

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the B♭maj7 chord?

B♭, D, F, A. The root is B♭; the intervals of the other notes from the root: major third, perfect fifth, major seventh.

How do I play the B♭maj7 chord on piano?

In root position, the right hand usually plays with fingers 1, 3 and 5 (thumb, middle finger, little finger); four-note chords with fingers 1, 2, 3 and 5. The left hand mirrors this: 5, 3, 1. In an inversion the top or bottom note moves to the other side, so your hand moves less when you change chords.

Why do some songbooks write H instead of B?

In German and Central European notation, H is the note B, and B is the note B♭. So a “B” chord in a German or Hungarian songbook is B♭ in English notation, and an “H” chord is B. Always check which notation your chord chart uses.