B flat augmented (Bb+) chord on guitar
- Notes
- B♭DF♯
- Formula
- 13♯5
How to play Bb+ on guitar
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Shape 1 · 1st position
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Shape 2 · fret 3 · barre
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Shape 3 · fret 6
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Shape 4 · fret 8
Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 pinky. x = do not play the string, o = open string. The coloured dot is the root (B flat). The same shapes work on acoustic, classical and electric guitar.
Bb+ inversions on guitar
The same Bb+ with another chord note in the bass (the lowest note that sounds). The notes stay the same, but the colour changes, and the bass line can move by step from one chord to the next. In a chord symbol, the bass comes after the slash.
3rd (D) in the bass1st inversion · Bb+/D
3rd (D) in the bass1st inversion · Bb+/D
5th (F♯) in the bass2nd inversion · Bb+/F#
5th (F♯) in the bass2nd inversion · Bb+/F#
About the augmented chord
The augmented chord raises the fifth and sounds like a "floating", dreamy expectation. It appears as a passing chord between I and IV (C → C+ → F) or in intros of old ballads. It is symmetrical: it repeats every 4 frets, so one shape serves three different chords.
Notes and intervals of Bb+
Bb+ (B flat augmented) is built from 3 notes. Each one fills a degree of the chord:
- B♭ · 1 · root
- D · 3 · major third
- F♯ · ♯5 · augmented fifth
Other B flat chords
- Bb
- Bbm
- Bb7
- Bb7M
- Bbm7
- Bbm7(b5)
- Bb°
- Bb°7
- Bb+
- Bbsus2
- Bbsus4
- Bb7sus4
- Bb5
- Bbadd9
- Bb6
- Bbm6
- Bb9
- Bbm(add9)
- Bbm9
- Bb7M(9)
- Bbm(7M)
- Bb7M(#5)
- Bb7(b9)
- Bb6(9)
- Bbm6(9)
- Bb11
- Bbm11
- Bb13
- Bbm13
- Bb7(#9)
- Bb7(#11)
- Bb7(b13)
- Bb7(#5)
- Bb7M(#11)
- Bb9sus4
Augmented: other roots
Arpeggio
Frequently asked questions
How do you play the Bb+ chord on guitar?
Bb+ (B flat augmented) has 4 fingerings on this page, from easiest to hardest. Each diagram shows the fingers, the open strings (o) and the strings you do not play (x), and you can hear every shape.
What notes are in Bb+?
The notes of Bb+ are B♭, D, F♯. The formula is 1 · 3 · ♯5: root, major third, augmented fifth.
What does Bb+ mean?
Bb+ is the chord symbol for B flat augmented. The augmented chord raises the fifth and sounds like a "floating", dreamy expectation. It appears as a passing chord between I and IV (C → C+ → F) or in intros of old ballads. It is symmetrical: it repeats every 4 frets, so one shape serves three different chords.
Can I play Bb+ on other instruments?
Yes. Bb+ also has a page on ukulele, on cavaquinho, with the fingerings for each instrument.