B flat minor (Bbm) chord on guitar

Notes: B♭D♭F
Formula: 1♭35

How to play Bbm on guitar

Shape 1 · fret 1 · barre
Shape 2 · fret 6 · barre
Shape 3 · fret 3 · barre
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.

Bbm inversions on guitar

The same Bbm 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 · Bbm/Db
3rd (D♭) in the bass1st inversion · Bbm/Db
5th (F) in the bass2nd inversion · Bbm/F
5th (F) in the bass2nd inversion · Bbm/F

About the minor chord

The minor third makes the chord darker, wistful or inward-looking. In a major key it shows up on the ii, iii and vi degrees (A minor in C major); in a minor key it is home base, from romantic ballads to folk songs.

Notes and intervals of Bbm

Bbm (B flat minor) is built from 3 notes. Each one fills a degree of the chord:

B♭ · 1 · root
D♭ · ♭3 · minor third
F · 5 · perfect fifth

Other B flat chords

Minor: other roots

Chords that go with Bbm

In the key of Bbm (minor), the most common chords next to it are the iv, the V7, the ♭III, the ♭VI and the ♭VII:

Arpeggio

B flat minor arpeggio on guitarThe notes of the chord one at a time, with the positions and the sound at the tempo you choose

Frequently asked questions

How do you play the Bbm chord on guitar?

Bbm (B flat minor) 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 Bbm?

The notes of Bbm are B♭, D♭, F. The formula is 1 · ♭3 · 5: root, minor third, perfect fifth.

What does Bbm mean?

Bbm is the chord symbol for B flat minor. The minor third makes the chord darker, wistful or inward-looking. In a major key it shows up on the ii, iii and vi degrees (A minor in C major); in a minor key it is home base, from romantic ballads to folk songs.

Can I play Bbm on other instruments?

Yes. Bbm also has a page on ukulele, on cavaquinho, with the fingerings for each instrument.

Bbm on other instruments

All guitar chords