Bb Major Guitar Chord
Bb
| Name | Bb major | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | Bb | D | F |
| Intervals | Rroot | 3major 3rd | 55th |
Root
Chord type
- Space Play
- Left arrowRight arrow Root
- Up arrowDown arrow Chord type
Shape
Tone
Dots show
Bb (B flat, also written A#) shows up a lot in songs in F and in horn-friendly keys. There's no open shape, so this version sits at the 1st and 3rd frets and keeps it to four strings.
How to play the Bb chord
- Don't play the low E string.
- Lay your 3rd finger flat across the D to B strings at the 3rd fret (a barre).
- Put your 1st finger on the 1st fret of the A string (Bb).
- Keep the high E string quiet: let the edge of a fretting finger touch it lightly.
- Strum from the A string down, skipping the string above it.
TipFlatten your 3rd finger across the D, G and B strings at the 3rd fret and let it touch the high E so it stays quiet. Your 1st finger only needs the A string.
Easier versionEasy Bb (xx3331): just the top four strings. 2nd, 3rd and 4th fingers on the 3rd fret of the D, G and B strings, 1st finger on the 1st fret of the high E.
6 ways to play Bb
Every shape below is a real Bb, checked note by note: Bb, D, F and nothing else. Easiest first, with the dark dot on the root.
Bbm vs Bb: hear the difference
Only one note changes: Bb has D (the major 3rd), Bbm has Db (the minor 3rd). Play them back to back:
Bb
BbDF
Bright and settled
Bbm
BbDbF
Darker and sadder
Chord progressions with Bb
Chords make sense once you move between them. Press play to hear each progression with the real recordings, one chord per bar, then play along. Tap any chord to open its page.
Practice changing to Bb
Switching chords cleanly is what makes a new chord usable in a song. Start the timer, then go back and forth between Bb and the chord you picked, strumming each one, and keep a count in your head. Your hands stay on the guitar the whole time. When it beeps, type in your count and try to beat it next time.
Bb to F
60seconds
-last try
-your best
Songs that use Bb
- Sultans of Swing by Dire StraitsVerse Dm-C-Bb-A
- Hey Jude by The BeatlesChorus Bb-Bb/A-Gm
- Bohemian Rhapsody by QueenHome chord, verse Bb-Gm-Cm-F7
- Rolling in the Deep by AdeleChorus Cm-Bb-Ab-Bb
Learn it with a teacher
Diagrams show you where your fingers go. A teacher shows you how to make it sound good. Start with these video lessons from the Infinite Guitar library:
The Major Chord
Free with an account · Mike Edwin
Introduction To Guitar - Chords
Free with an account · Chris Feener
Chord Changes for Beginners - Transitions
Free with an account · Chris Feener
Mastering Bar Chords - Introduction
Free with an account · Chris Feener
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Chords related to Bb
Chords that go with Bb
Other Bb chords
Other major chords
Bb chord FAQ
What notes are in a Bb chord?
Bb has 3 notes: Bb (the root), D (the major 3rd) and F (the 5th). Every Bb shape on the guitar is those notes in a different order.
What is the difference between Bbm and Bb?
Only one note changes: Bb has D (the major 3rd), Bbm has Db (the minor 3rd). Use the player above to hear both.
Is Bb hard to play?
It's a step up from the first open chords: 2 fingers spread over a few frets. Start with the easy 4-string version above, then work toward the main shape.
How do you play Bb as a barre chord?
Barre the 6th fret with your 1st finger, using the E shape (6-8-8-7-6-6). That shape is movable: slide it up or down and it plays a major chord on every fret.
What key is Bb in?
It's the I chord in Bb major, the IV chord in F major and the V chord in Eb major, so it fits in all three keys.
Bb or A#?
They're the same chord with two names: B flat and A sharp are the same note. We use Bb because it's the name most songs and players use.