Learn › Bb7 Chord Inversions: All Four Positions
New Released in April 2026
Bb7 Chord Inversions: All Four Positions
B flat dominant 7th chord inversions: four positions, Bb7, Bb7/D, Bb7/F and Bb7/Ab. Same four notes (Bb D F Ab), a different one in the bass. Learn to spot each position at a glance, then use the nearest one to move between chords.
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- MIDI keyboard
- Digital or acoustic piano
- Guitar
- Computer, phone or tablet
How to tell the Bb7 inversions apart
Look for the two notes that sit next to each other: none in root position, at the top in the 1st inversion, in the middle in the 2nd, at the bottom in the 3rd.
| Position | Bass | Name | Figured bass | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Root position | Bb | Bb7 | 7 | no neighbours: four notes evenly stacked (major 3rd + minor 3rd + minor 3rd) |
| 1st inversion | D | Bb7/D | 6/5 | neighbours at the top (minor 3rd + minor 3rd + major 2nd) |
| 2nd inversion | F | Bb7/F | 4/3 | neighbours in the middle (minor 3rd + major 2nd + major 3rd) |
| 3rd inversion | Ab | Bb7/Ab | 4/2 | neighbours at the bottom (major 2nd + major 3rd + minor 3rd) |
The four positions of Bb7
Root position starts on Bb, then D, F and Ab.
Root position: Bb D F Ab
1st inversion: D F Ab Bb
2nd inversion: F Ab Bb D
3rd inversion: Ab Bb D F
- Root position: starts on Bb, a black key; black keys: Bb, Ab
- 1st inversion: starts on D, a white key; black keys: Ab, Bb
- 2nd inversion: starts on F, a white key; black keys: Ab, Bb
- 3rd inversion: starts on Ab, a black key; black keys: Ab, Bb
Move through Fm7 → Bb7 → Ebmaj7 without jumping
This is why pianists learn seventh-chord inversions: Fm7 → Bb7 → Ebmaj7 keeps the hand in one place.
- From Fm7 to Bb7: C → Bb, Eb → D, F stays, Ab stays.
- From Bb7 to Ebmaj7: Bb stays, D stays, F → Eb, Ab → G.
Bb7 inversions: which fingers
| Position | Right hand | Left hand |
|---|---|---|
| Root position (Bb D F Ab) | 1-2-3-5 | 5-3-2-1 |
| 1st inversion (D F Ab Bb) | 1-2-3-5 | 5-3-2-1 |
| 2nd inversion (F Ab Bb D) | 1-2-3-5 | 5-3-2-1 |
| 3rd inversion (Ab Bb D F) | 1-2-3-5 | 5-3-2-1 |
Four notes, four fingers: 1-2-3-5 in the right hand and 5-3-2-1 in the left work in every position.
Practise Bb7 in every position
ChordRunner accepts every voicing, so you can drill all four positions of Bb7 between other chords. MIDI keyboard or microphone.
Play the demoCommon questions
How many inversions does Bb7 have?
Four positions in total, because it has four notes: root position plus three inversions, Bb7/D, Bb7/F and Bb7/Ab.
What is Bb7/Ab?
It is Bb7 in 3rd inversion: Ab Bb D F from the bottom, with the seventh in the bass. Figured bass calls it 4/2.
Can I practise Bb7 inversions with a MIDI keyboard or microphone?
Yes. ChordRunner detects a USB MIDI keyboard automatically and also hears a piano through the microphone; every inversion of Bb7 counts.
Your instrument is the controller.
ChordRunner is a browser game that teaches piano and guitar chords: a chord appears on screen, you play it on a real instrument, and your runner jumps. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.
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