Minor chord · Bb root
Bbm chord
- Bb1
- Db♭3
- F5
The Bb minor chord (also called the A#m chord — same notes, different spelling) is built from the notes Bb, Db, F. A minor shape you will meet in barre-chord territory.
By Chiye · Updated
What is the Bbm chord?
The Bbm chord (Bb minor) is a minor chord built from three notes: Bb, Db, F — the 1–♭3–5 of the Bb scale, 3 semitones and 7 semitones above the root. On guitar it is most often played as a movable shape from fret 1 (x-1-3-3-2-1); shift all fretted notes together to transpose it along the neck. It is rated intermediate. The darker, moodier counterpart of the major chord. Below you will find step-by-step fingering, 4 positions up the neck, audio of every shape, and the real progressions this chord lives inside.
How do you play the Bbm chord on guitar?
Fret 1 barre — a movable shape, so this same fingering works for every root note.
- Lay your index finger flat across the A to high E strings at fret 1, rolled slightly onto its bony edge.
- Press the D string at fret 3 with your ring finger.
- Press the G string at fret 3 with your pinky finger.
- Press the B string at fret 2 with your middle finger.
- Start your strum on the A string and do not play the low E string at all.
Leave out the lowest fretted note (A string) and practise the remaining strings. The bass changes, and the upper strings may still need a smaller barre; check that the third and other colour tones stay clear. x-x-3-3-2-1
How do you make Bbm sound clean?
Bbm sits against the nut, the stiffest and widest-spaced position on the neck, so players muscle the barre with the forearm instead of rolling the index onto its side. The first string (F) goes quiet and the chord sounds hollow.
Barre Bbm, pick the first string, adjust until it rings. Then switch to Bm one fret up and back — same shape, so the difference you hear is your hand, not the guitar.
In real songs
Bbm in songs
None of the 104 songs charted on this site use Bbm yet — it is a colour chord rather than a songwriting staple.
2 songs on this site sound in Bbm
No sheet here fingers the Bbm shape, but the key itself is not rare.
| Song | Artist | Key | Capo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riptide | Vance Joy | Bbm | 1 |
| Treat You Better | Shawn Mendes | Bbm | 1 |
What other ways can you play Bbm up the neck?
3 more positions below. These are the same notes in a different part of the neck. Choosing the position closest to the chord you just played is what stops your hand jumping between changes.
Position 2 · Fret 2
Because nothing rings open, you can move this whole shape to any fret and it keeps the same quality — only the letter name changes.
Position 3 · Fret 6 barre
Because nothing rings open, you can move this whole shape to any fret and it keeps the same quality — only the letter name changes.
A single bar covers the rest of the strings here. If the inside strings stay dead, move the bar a millimetre closer to the fret wire before you try pressing harder.
Position 4 · Fret 8
Because nothing rings open, you can move this whole shape to any fret and it keeps the same quality — only the letter name changes.
Up at fret 8 the frets are close together, so use a lighter touch than you would in the open position — squeezing here pulls the notes sharp.
The theory behind Bbm
Bbm is spelled Bb – Db – F — the 1 – ♭3 – 5 of the Bb scale, which is the root plus 3 semitones, 7 semitones. The darker, moodier counterpart of the major chord.
The flattened third is what makes it minor, so if Bbm sounds wrong the third is almost always the note being muted — check the string carrying it before you change anything else.
What key is the Bbm chord in?
Bbm is the i chord in Bb minor, the ii chord in Ab major and the vi chord in Db major — the three keys where Bbm appears naturally.
the home chord of the minor key
the gentle predominant — often before the V
the relative minor — the major key’s shadow
Bbm on other instruments
Bb – Db – F — the highlighted black keys are the sharps or flats; play each note once, then move them into one hand position.
Take it to the practice room
