B major seventh (Bmaj7) chord on piano

Looking for the Bmaj7 chord on piano? It is a major seventh chord (a major triad plus a major seventh), made of four notes: B – D♯ – F♯ – A♯.

Root position: B3 – D♯4 – F♯4 – A♯4

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What the Bmaj7 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 Bmaj7 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

B3 – D♯4 – F♯4 – A♯4

1st inversion

D♯4 – F♯4 – A♯4 – B4

2nd inversion

F♯4 – A♯4 – B4 – D♯5

3rd inversion

A♯4 – B4 – D♯5 – F♯5

Which keys is it in?

The Bmaj7 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 Bmaj7 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

A♭m7 – relative minor seventh: three shared notes
E♭m7 – mediant minor seventh: three shared notes
B6 – another tonic colour, more vintage and swingy

Simpler versions

B – all 3 of its notes are in this chord

Richer versions

Bmaj9 – the same chord plus 1 colour note

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the Bmaj7 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 Bmaj7 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.