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Bb Guitar Chords
Every common Bb chord (also written A#) on guitar — major, minor, sevenths, sus, add9, diminished and more — with up to three ways to play each one, from open position to barre chords up the neck. Tap ▶ Strum to hear a shape, or Pick to hear it one string at a time.
Bb Bb major Notes: Bb – D – F · Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 · Bright and stable — the most common chord there is.
Loop it Bb chord — EADGBE tuning (X-1-3-3-3-1) × Bb F Bb D F Barre, root on string 5, fret 1 x 1 3 3 3 1 ▶ Strum Pick Bb chord — EADGBE tuning (6-8-8-7-6-6) 6fr Bb F Bb D F Bb Barre, root on string 6, fret 6 6 8 8 7 6 6 ▶ Strum Pick Bb chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-8-10-11-10) 8fr × × Bb F Bb D Root on string 4, fret 8 x x 8 10 11 10 ▶ Strum Pick
Bbm Bb minor Notes: Bb – Db – F · Formula: 1 – ♭3 – 5 · Darker and sadder than major.
Loop it Bbm chord — EADGBE tuning (X-1-3-3-2-1) × Bb F Bb Db F Barre, root on string 5, fret 1 x 1 3 3 2 1 ▶ Strum Pick Bbm chord — EADGBE tuning (6-8-8-6-6-6) 6fr Bb F Bb Db F Bb Barre, root on string 6, fret 6 6 8 8 6 6 6 ▶ Strum Pick Bbm chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-8-10-11-9) 8fr × × Bb F Bb Db Root on string 4, fret 8 x x 8 10 11 9 ▶ Strum Pick
Bb7 Bb dominant 7th Notes: Bb – D – F – Ab · Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – ♭7 · Bluesy and restless; wants to move to the chord a fifth below.
Loop it Bb7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-1-3-1-3-1) × Bb F Ab D F Barre, root on string 5, fret 1 x 1 3 1 3 1 ▶ Strum Pick Bb7 chord — EADGBE tuning (6-8-6-7-6-6) 6fr Bb F Ab D F Bb Barre, root on string 6, fret 6 6 8 6 7 6 6 ▶ Strum Pick Bb7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-8-10-9-10) 8fr × × Bb F Ab D Root on string 4, fret 8 x x 8 10 9 10 ▶ Strum Pick
Bbmaj7 Bb major 7th Notes: Bb – D – F – A · Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – 7 · Soft, dreamy and jazzy.
Loop it Bbmaj7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-1-3-2-3-1) × Bb F A D F Barre, root on string 5, fret 1 x 1 3 2 3 1 ▶ Strum Pick Bbmaj7 chord — EADGBE tuning (6-X-7-7-6-X) 6fr × × Bb A D F Barre, root on string 6, fret 6 6 x 7 7 6 x ▶ Strum Pick Bbmaj7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-8-10-10-10) 8fr × × Bb F A D Root on string 4, fret 8 x x 8 10 10 10 ▶ Strum Pick
Bbm7 Bb minor 7th Notes: Bb – Db – F – Ab · Formula: 1 – ♭3 – 5 – ♭7 · Mellow minor — soul, R&B and jazz.
Loop it Bbm7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-1-3-1-2-1) × Bb F Ab Db F Barre, root on string 5, fret 1 x 1 3 1 2 1 ▶ Strum Pick Bbm7 chord — EADGBE tuning (6-8-6-6-6-6) 6fr Bb F Ab Db F Bb Barre, root on string 6, fret 6 6 8 6 6 6 6 ▶ Strum Pick Bbm7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-8-10-9-9) 8fr × × Bb F Ab Db Root on string 4, fret 8 x x 8 10 9 9 ▶ Strum Pick
Bbsus2 Bb suspended 2nd Notes: Bb – C – F · Formula: 1 – 2 – 5 · Open and airy: neither major nor minor.
Loop it Bbsus2 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-1-3-3-1-1) × Bb F Bb C F Barre, root on string 5, fret 1 x 1 3 3 1 1 ▶ Strum Pick Bbsus2 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-8-10-11-8) 8fr × × Bb F Bb C Root on string 4, fret 8 x x 8 10 11 8 ▶ Strum Pick Bbsus2 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-13-15-15-13-13) 13fr × Bb F Bb C F Barre, root on string 5, fret 13 x 13 15 15 13 13 ▶ Strum Pick
Bbsus4 Bb suspended 4th Notes: Bb – Eb – F · Formula: 1 – 4 – 5 · Tense in a gentle way; usually resolves to major.
Loop it Bbsus4 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-1-3-3-4-1) × Bb F Bb Eb F Barre, root on string 5, fret 1 x 1 3 3 4 1 ▶ Strum Pick Bbsus4 chord — EADGBE tuning (6-8-8-8-6-6) 6fr Bb F Bb Eb F Bb Barre, root on string 6, fret 6 6 8 8 8 6 6 ▶ Strum Pick Bbsus4 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-8-10-11-11) 8fr × × Bb F Bb Eb Root on string 4, fret 8 x x 8 10 11 11 ▶ Strum Pick
Bbadd9 Bb add 9 Notes: Bb – C – D – F · Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – 9 · A major chord with sparkle on top.
Loop it Bbadd9 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-1-3-5-3-1) × Bb F C D F Barre, root on string 5, fret 1 x 1 3 5 3 1 ▶ Strum Pick Bbadd9 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-13-12-10-13-10) 10fr × Bb D F C D C-shape, root on string 5, fret 13 x 13 12 10 13 10 ▶ Strum Pick
Bb6 Bb major 6th Notes: Bb – D – F – G · Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – 6 · Sweet, vintage sound — swing and country.
Loop it Bb6 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-1-3-3-3-3) × Bb F Bb D G Barre, root on string 5, fret 1 x 1 3 3 3 3 ▶ Strum Pick Bb6 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-8-10-8-10) 8fr × × Bb F G D Root on string 4, fret 8 x x 8 10 8 10 ▶ Strum Pick Bb6 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-13-15-15-15-15) 13fr × Bb F Bb D G Barre, root on string 5, fret 13 x 13 15 15 15 15 ▶ Strum Pick
Bbm6 Bb minor 6th Notes: Bb – Db – F – G · Formula: 1 – ♭3 – 5 – 6 · Minor with a mysterious, film-noir twist.
Loop it Bbm6 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-1-3-3-2-3) × Bb F Bb Db G Barre, root on string 5, fret 1 x 1 3 3 2 3 ▶ Strum Pick Bbm6 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-8-10-8-9) 8fr × × Bb F G Db Root on string 4, fret 8 x x 8 10 8 9 ▶ Strum Pick Bbm6 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-13-15-15-14-15) 13fr × Bb F Bb Db G Barre, root on string 5, fret 13 x 13 15 15 14 15 ▶ Strum Pick
Bb9 Bb dominant 9th Notes: Bb – C – D – F – Ab · Formula: 1 – 3 – (5) – ♭7 – 9 · Funky and soulful.
Loop it Bb9 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-1-0-1-1-1) × Bb D Ab C F Barre, root on string 5, fret 1 x 1 0 1 1 1 ▶ Strum Pick Bb9 chord — EADGBE tuning (6-8-6-7-6-8) 6fr Bb F Ab D F C Barre, root on string 6, fret 6 6 8 6 7 6 8 ▶ Strum Pick Bb9 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-13-12-13-13-13) 12fr × Bb D Ab C F Barre, root on string 5, fret 13 x 13 12 13 13 13 ▶ Strum Pick
Bbdim Bb diminished Notes: Bb – Db – E · Formula: 1 – ♭3 – ♭5 · Tense and unstable — a passing chord.
Loop it Bbdim chord — EADGBE tuning (X-1-2-3-2-X) × × Bb E Bb Db Barre, root on string 5, fret 1 x 1 2 3 2 x ▶ Strum Pick Bbdim chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-8-9-11-9) 8fr × × Bb E Bb Db Root on string 4, fret 8 x x 8 9 11 9 ▶ Strum Pick Bbdim chord — EADGBE tuning (X-13-14-15-14-X) 13fr × × Bb E Bb Db Barre, root on string 5, fret 13 x 13 14 15 14 x ▶ Strum Pick
Bbdim7 Bb diminished 7th Notes: Bb – Db – E – G · Formula: 1 – ♭3 – ♭5 – 𝄫7 · Dramatic and symmetrical: repeats every 3 frets.
Loop it Bbdim7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-1-2-3-2-3) × Bb E Bb Db G Barre, root on string 5, fret 1 x 1 2 3 2 3 ▶ Strum Pick Bbdim7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-8-9-8-9) 8fr × × Bb E G Db Root on string 4, fret 8 x x 8 9 8 9 ▶ Strum Pick Bbdim7 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-13-14-15-14-15) 13fr × Bb E Bb Db G Barre, root on string 5, fret 13 x 13 14 15 14 15 ▶ Strum Pick
Bbm7b5 Bb half-diminished (m7♭5) Notes: Bb – Db – E – Ab · Formula: 1 – ♭3 – ♭5 – ♭7 · The ii chord of minor keys.
Loop it Bbm7b5 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-1-2-1-2-X) × × Bb E Ab Db Barre, root on string 5, fret 1 x 1 2 1 2 x ▶ Strum Pick Bbm7b5 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-8-9-9-9) 8fr × × Bb E Ab Db Root on string 4, fret 8 x x 8 9 9 9 ▶ Strum Pick Bbm7b5 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-13-14-13-14-X) 13fr × × Bb E Ab Db Barre, root on string 5, fret 13 x 13 14 13 14 x ▶ Strum Pick
Bbaug Bb augmented Notes: Bb – D – Gb · Formula: 1 – 3 – ♯5 · Dreamy and unresolved; repeats every 4 frets.
Loop it Bbaug chord — EADGBE tuning (X-1-4-3-3-2) × Bb Gb Bb D Gb Barre, root on string 5, fret 1 x 1 4 3 3 2 ▶ Strum Pick Bbaug chord — EADGBE tuning (X-X-8-11-11-10) 8fr × × Bb Gb Bb D Root on string 4, fret 8 x x 8 11 11 10 ▶ Strum Pick
Bb5 Bb power chord (5) Notes: Bb – F · Formula: 1 – 5 · No 3rd, so it suits distortion — rock and metal.
Loop it Bb5 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-1-3-3-X-X) × × × Bb F Bb Barre, root on string 5, fret 1 x 1 3 3 x x ▶ Strum Pick Bb5 chord — EADGBE tuning (6-8-8-X-X-X) 6fr × × × Bb F Bb Barre, root on string 6, fret 6 6 8 8 x x x ▶ Strum Pick Bb5 chord — EADGBE tuning (X-13-15-15-X-X) 13fr × × × Bb F Bb Barre, root on string 5, fret 13 x 13 15 15 x x ▶ Strum Pick
Where Bb chords show up
Bb major is the I, IV or V chord in the keys of F, Bb, Eb. Bbm is the ii, iii or vi chord in Ab, Db, F#. Try a progression that uses it in the progressions library , or find the key of your own song with the key finder .
How to read these chord diagrams
Strings run left to right from the thick low E (string 6) to the thin high E (string 1). A dot means press that fret; O above the nut means play the string open, × means don't play it. A bar across several strings is a barre — press them all with one finger. Red dots are the root note (Bb). The letters under each diagram are the notes that sound.
Not in standard tuning? The chord finder works out shapes for any tuning, and the tunings library has chord charts for 20 alternate tunings.
Questions How do you play a Bb chord on guitar? The most common Bb major shape is shown first on this page as a barre chord; the diagram shows which frets to press and which strings to skip.
What notes are in a Bb chord? Bb major contains Bb – D – F. Bb minor lowers the middle note by one fret.