B♭ Major 7th
B♭maj7
Notes
B♭ · D · F · A
Intervals
- RootB♭ (1P)
- Major 3rdD (3M)
- Perfect 5thF (5P)
- Major 7thA (7M)
Fretboard
Adjust labels, frets, and palette in the interactive view.
Voicings & shapes
Drop-2 voicings (12)
Drop-3 voicings (8)
Shell voicings (2)
About
The B♭ major 7th (B♭–D–F–A) adds a major seventh to the major triad. Unlike the dominant 7 there is no tritone — the A sits a half step below the root, creating a gentle, unresolved shimmer rather than a strong directional pull. This makes maj7 a tonic or subdominant color, used to add sophistication without urgency. The major 7th interval itself is the defining tone; the fifth can be omitted. On guitar, shell voicings (1–3–7) are efficient and common in jazz. The half step between A and the root is part of the appeal — a tension that does not demand resolution. Compared to B♭7, maj7 is relaxed and expansive; compared to B♭, more harmonically lit-from-within.
Chord diagrams
Bb Major 7th voicing charts — tap a sheet to open it full size to save or print.
Similar chords
Chords sharing two or more notes with this one, ranked by overlap.
Scales containing this chord
- B♭ Lydian (I)
- B♭ Major (I)
- A Locrian (II)
- A Phrygian (II)
- C Dorian (VII)
- C Mixolydian (VII)
- D Harmonic Minor (VI)
- D Natural Minor (VI)
- D Phrygian (VI)
- E Locrian (V)
- E♭ Lydian (V)
- F Major (IV)
- F Mixolydian (IV)
- G Dorian (III)
- G Natural Minor (III)
Scales whose notes include every chord tone. The Roman numeral (or scale degree) marks the chord root’s position in the scale.