Bb/F on guitar: B flat with F in the bass
Bb/F is the B flat major chord (B♭, D, F) with its 5th, F, as the lowest note: the 2nd inversion of Bb. The notes are the same as in Bb; only the one at the bottom changes.
- Notes
- B♭DF
- Bass
- F 5th of the chord
How to play Bb/F 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 8 · barre
Where Bb/F shows up
The 5th in the bass is unstable and asks to move. The textbook use is the cadence: Bb/F → F7 → Bb, with the bass holding the same note through the first two chords (the "cadential six-four").
Other positions of Bb
Frequently asked questions
What does Bb/F mean?
Bb/F reads "Bb over F": you play Bb and the lowest note is F. In a chord symbol, whatever comes after the slash is always the bass.
What is the difference between Bb/F and Bb?
The notes are the same (B♭, D, F); only the lowest one changes. With F in the bass, Bb is in 2nd inversion, and the bass line can move by step between chords.
How do you play Bb/F on guitar?
The shapes on this page go from easiest to hardest. In all of them F is the lowest note; the low strings that would sound below it are not played (x).