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B♭ Chord on Guitar

B♭ is the B♭ major chord — 3 notes (B♭, D, F) built from the formula 1 3 5. Below are playable shapes across the fretboard, the keys it belongs to and the scales to use when soloing over it.

Notes: B♭ · D · FFormula: 1 · 3 · 5Hear it and see it on the fretboard ▸

B♭: Chord shapes (open & barre)

  • B♭ – open position×R3R35open position
  • B♭ – fret 1×R5R35fret 1
  • B♭ – fret 33R35R3Rfret 3
  • B♭ – fret 66R5R35Rfret 6
  • B♭ – fret 88××R5R3fret 8
  • B♭ – fret 1010×R35R3fret 10
  • B♭ – fret 1313×R5R35fret 13

B♭: Triad voicings (3 strings)

  • B♭ – bass: R3R35×××bass: R
  • B♭ – bass: R10×R35××bass: R
  • B♭ – bass: R6××R35×bass: R
  • B♭ – bass: R×××R35bass: R
  • B♭ – bass: 3835R×××bass: 3
  • B♭ – bass: 3×35R××bass: 3
  • B♭ – bass: 310××35R×bass: 3
  • B♭ – bass: 36×××35Rbass: 3
  • B♭ – bass: 5125R3×××bass: 5
  • B♭ – bass: 57×5R3××bass: 5
  • B♭ – bass: 5××5R3×bass: 5
  • B♭ – bass: 510×××5R3bass: 5

Keys that contain B♭

Scales to play over B♭

Ordered from the most common choice. All of them contain B♭, D, F.

Other B♭ chords

Triads

Sevenths

Sixths

Added

Extended

Major chords in other keys

FAQ

What notes are in the B♭ chord?
B♭ (B♭ major) contains B♭, D, F — formula 1 3 5.
How do you play B♭ on guitar?
A common shape is x10331 (low E to high E, x = muted string, open position). This page shows more shapes, drop 2, drop 3 and shell voicings in the interactive library.
What scale goes with B♭?
Good choices to solo over B♭: B♭ Ionian (Major), B♭ Lydian, B♭ Major pentatonic.
What key is B♭ in?
B♭ is diatonic in E♭ major (V), F major (IV), B♭ major (I), C minor (♭VII), D minor (♭VI), G minor (♭III).