Bb/A on guitar: B flat with A in the bass
Bb/A is Bb with A in the bass. That A is the chord's 7th, so what you hear is Bb7M in 3rd inversion (Bb7M/A), with the notes B♭, D, F, A.
- Notes
- B♭DFA
- Bass
- A 7th of the chord · Bb7M
How to play Bb/A 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 · barre
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Shape 4 · fret 10
Where Bb/A shows up
The 7th in the bass wants to step down. The most common path: Bb → Bb/A → Gm, with the bass walking down B♭, A, G.
Other positions of Bb
Frequently asked questions
What does Bb/A mean?
Bb/A reads "Bb over A": you play Bb and the lowest note is A. In a chord symbol, whatever comes after the slash is always the bass.
What is the difference between Bb/A and Bb?
Bb/A has one more note: A in the bass, which is the 7th. That is why it sounds like Bb7M in 3rd inversion.
How do you play Bb/A on guitar?
The shapes on this page go from easiest to hardest. In all of them A is the lowest note; the low strings that would sound below it are not played (x).