B Major 7th Guitar Chord — Drop B
Guitar chord voicings in Drop B tuning (B-F#-B-E-G#-C#)
B Major 7th Voicings in Drop B
B Major 7th filtered by fret:
B Major 7th in Drop B Tuning — Guide
The B Major 7th chord is made up of the following notes: B, D#, F#, A#.
Intervals: 1P, 3M, 5P, 7M.
The B Major 7th chord in Drop B tuning (B-F#-B-E-G#-C#) requires different fingerings than standard tuning.
B major seventh combines a major triad with a major seventh interval, yielding the notes B, D#, F#, A# (intervals 1P, 3M, 5P, 7M). The major seventh sits just a half step below the octave, creating a lush, dreamy dissonance that sounds sophisticated rather than tense. This chord is the signature sound of bossa nova, smooth jazz, and neo-soul, evoking warmth, nostalgia, and romantic elegance.
How to Play B Major 7th
On guitar, B maj7 is most commonly played as a barre chord. The E-shape barre at fret 11 or the A-shape barre provide the two most practical voicings. Mastering barre chord technique unlocks this chord in every position along the neck, giving you freedom to play in any key.
B Major 7th in Progressions
B major seventh typically serves as the Imaj7 in B major or the IVmaj7 in F# major. These are the two diatonic positions where major seventh chords naturally occur, giving songs a polished, sophisticated character.
Common Substitutions
B6, Bmaj9, or Badd9 can replace the major seventh, offering varying levels of color and complexity.
Difficulty: On guitar, this chord is intermediate — a barre or partial barre is likely needed, but the shape is manageable with practice.