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B-flat Dominant 7th Chord
The B-flat Dominant 7th Chord is B-flat, D, F, and A-flat: black keys on the outside and white keys in the middle. The chord pulls toward E-flat, and let's listen for the A-flat on top, since it's the note that creates that pull.
How to play the B-flat Dominant 7th Chord on the piano
Let’s go through some charts that will familiarize you with the B-flat Dominant 7th Chord and how to play it in the various forms you will encounter in pieces of music. First, we’ll look at the fundamental chord and its inversions; then, we’ll explore some more complex voicings.
The B-flat Dominant 7th Chord in root position
In root position, the notes of the B♭ dominant 7th chord are stacked in thirds with B♭ on the bottom. The appearance on the staff is evenly spaced, as is the feeling of the space in between your fingers while playing.
| B-flat Dominant 7th Chord in root position | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | B♭ D F A♭ |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | B♭7 |
The B-flat Dominant 7th Chord in first inversion
In first inversion, the third of the chord (D) becomes the bottom note, and the root (B♭) jumps up to the top.
| B-flat Dominant 7th Chord in 1st inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | D F A♭ B♭ |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 4 5 |
| Chord Symbol | B♭6/5 or B♭7/D |
The B-flat Dominant 7th Chord in second inversion
In second inversion, the fifth of the chord (F) is on the bottom, and the third of the chord (D) goes to the top.
| B-flat Dominant 7th Chord in 2nd inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | F A♭ B♭ D |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | B♭4/3 or B♭7/F |
The B-flat Dominant 7th Chord in third inversion
In third inversion, the seventh of the chord (A♭) is on the bottom, and the fifth of the chord (F) goes to the top.
| B-flat Dominant 7th Chord in 3rd inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | A♭ B♭ D F |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 4 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | B♭4/2 or B♭7/A♭ |
B-flat Dominant 7th Chord theory and function
The dominant 7th is the chord that most wants to resolve. Its third and seventh form a tritone, and each of those notes pulls by step: the third up, the seventh down. That pull is what makes V7 lead so firmly to I.
The B♭ dominant 7th chord is the dominant (V7) in E♭ major. In minor keys, it is the dominant (V7) in E♭ minor.
The resolution is B♭7 – E♭: D steps up to E♭ and A♭ steps down to G. At a cadence, V7 – I is the sound of a phrase ending. When a dominant 7th chord turns up in a key where it isn’t the V7 (the chord built on the fifth scale degree), it is almost always pointing at the chord a fourth above it. Try playing B♭7 and then E♭ and listen for those two half steps.
Other chords built on B-flat
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