Chords › B♭ minor
B Flat Minor Chord on Guitar
- B♭m
- B♭ · D♭ · F
- Barre at fret 1
- Also written A♯m
A-shape barre
Easy, four strings. Play only the top four strings, with no full barre. It is the usual first step before the barre shape.
B flat minor, written B♭m, is a minor chord: the root, the minor third and the fifth, which gives it its darker sound. B♭m has no open shape, so it is usually played as an A-shape barre chord at the 1st fret, and there is an easier four-string version for beginners.
How to play B♭m, finger by finger
- Lay your index finger flat across strings 5 to 1 at the 1st fret.
- Put your middle finger on string 2 at the 2nd fret.
- Put your ring finger on string 4 at the 3rd fret.
- Put your pinky finger on string 3 at the 3rd fret.
- Strum from string 5 down to string 1, and don't play string 6.
Easy B♭m for beginners
Play only the top four strings, with no full barre. It is the usual first step before the barre shape.
More ways to play B♭m
Notes in B♭ minor
| Note | Interval | Role |
|---|---|---|
| B♭ | 1 | root |
| D♭ | ♭3 | minor third |
| F | 5 | fifth |
Formula: 1 – ♭3 – 5
Questions about B♭m
What notes are in B♭m?
B♭, D♭ and F. Those are the 1, ♭3, 5 of the chord, counted from B♭.
What is the easiest way to play B♭m?
Play the four-string version on the top strings, frets 3, 3, 2, 1 from the 4th string to the 1st. Move to the full barre at the 1st fret when your index finger is ready.
Is B♭m the same as A♯m?
Yes, on guitar they are played the same way and sound the same. B flat and A sharp are two names for one note: songs in sharp keys write A♯, songs in flat keys write B♭.
Related chords
Often played with B♭m
Other minor chords