C/Bb on guitar: C with B flat in the bass
C/Bb is C with B♭ in the bass. That B♭ is the chord's 7th, so what you hear is C7 in 3rd inversion (C7/B♭), with the notes C, E, G, B♭.
- Notes
- CEGB♭
- Bass
- B♭ 7th of the chord · C7
How to play C/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 5 · barre
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Shape 4 · fret 8
Where C/Bb shows up
The 7th in the bass wants to step down. The most common path: C → C/Bb → F/A, with the bass walking down C, B♭, A.
Other positions of C
Frequently asked questions
What does C/Bb mean?
C/Bb reads "C over B♭": you play C and the lowest note is B♭. In a chord symbol, whatever comes after the slash is always the bass.
What is the difference between C/Bb and C?
C/Bb has one more note: B♭ in the bass, which is the 7th. That is why it sounds like C7 in 3rd inversion.
How do you play C/Bb on guitar?
The shapes on this page go from easiest to hardest. In all of them B♭ is the lowest note; the low strings that would sound below it are not played (x).