Bb Dominant Seventh Guitar Chord Charts & Variations
Welcome to our tutorial on the Bb 7 chord. This chord belongs to the Dominant Chords family, a group of chords that are widely used in various music genres. The Bb 7 chord is composed of the notes Bb, D, F, and Ab, which are built from the intervals 1, 3, 5, and b7 respectively.
The music intervals that make up this chord are the Root (1), Major Third (3), Perfect Fifth (5), and Minor Seventh (b7). These intervals are fundamental building blocks of music theory, and understanding them can greatly enhance your ability to play and create music. If you're not familiar with these intervals, you might find our fretboard intervals tutorial helpful, as it provides a detailed explanation of each interval.
Being a dominant chord, the Bb 7 chord plays a crucial role in creating tension and resolution in music, making it a staple in genres like blues, jazz, and rock. You can learn more about this in our dominant (7) guitar chords tutorial.
Throughout this tutorial, we will be using chord diagrams and fretboard patterns to illustrate the tones composing the Bb 7 chord. These visual aids are designed to help you understand and memorize the chord's structure. If you're interested in learning more about how chords are built by stacking intervals, check out our guitar music theory tutorial.
Whether you are a beginner looking to expand your chord vocabulary or an intermediate player aiming to deepen your understanding of music theory, mastering the Bb 7 chord is a great step forward. So grab your guitar and let's get started!
Bb 7 chord Notes:
How the Dominant Seventh chord is built:
Guitar Patterns for the Bb Dominant Seventh chord
Chord boxes are sorted from the easiest to the hardest. Learn how to read chord diagrams.
If you have difficulties with bar chord shapes, check the Bar Chords Tips tutorial.
You can also use this accessible chords page with written diagrams instruction.
Position 1
Movable
Position 2
Open
Position 3
Movable
Position 4
Movable
Position 5
Movable
Position 6
Movable
Position 7
Movable
Position 8
Movable
Position 9
Movable
Position 10
Movable
Position 11
Barre
Movable
Position 12
Barre
Movable
Position 13
Barre
Movable
Position 14
Barre
Movable
Position 15
Barre
Movable
Position 16
Barre
Movable
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FAQ
What are the specific notes that form the Bb7 chord?
The Bb7 chord is constructed from four distinct notes: Bb (the root), D (the major third), F (the perfect fifth), and Ab (the minor seventh). These notes create its unique sound and function.
What intervals make up the Bb7 chord?
The Bb7 chord is built using the Root (1), Major Third (3), Perfect Fifth (5), and Minor Seventh (b7) intervals. Understanding these intervals is key to comprehending the chord's construction and its sound.
Why is the Bb7 chord considered a 'Dominant Chord'?
The Bb7 chord is classified as a Dominant Chord because of its inherent musical function to create tension and a strong pull towards resolution. This characteristic sound is largely due to the presence of the minor seventh interval.
What does the 'b7' interval in the Bb7 chord mean?
The 'b7' interval signifies a 'minor seventh'. This interval is crucial for giving the Bb7 chord its distinctive dominant quality and its characteristic tension, differentiating it from other types of seventh chords.
In which music genres is the Bb7 chord commonly used?
The Bb7 chord, as a dominant chord, is a fundamental element in many popular music styles. It is particularly prevalent and plays a crucial role in genres such as blues, jazz, and rock music.
What is the primary musical role or function of the Bb7 chord?
The main musical function of the Bb7 chord is to create a sense of tension that naturally seeks to resolve to another chord, typically the tonic. This 'tension and resolution' dynamic is a cornerstone of harmonic movement in countless songs.