Bbmaj7 chord (B flat major seventh) on bass
Bbmaj7 (B flat major seventh) has four notes: B flat, D, F and A. Its formula is 1, 3, 5, 7. In major keys, Bbmaj7 is the Imaj7 chord in Bb major and the IVmaj7 in F major.
How to play Bbmaj7 on bass
Low notes close together sound muddy, so bass players spread a chord out and leave notes out. Forms with a 3rd or 7th sound clear from about the E string's 8th fret up, so they start there; root and 5th stays low. These forms put the root on the E string; the same shapes work from the A string.
Fingers: 1 on E, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 2 on D, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 3 on D.
Hear it and see every shape in ScaleSpace →
| Symbol | Bbmaj7 |
|---|---|
| Also written | BbM7, BbΔ7, BbΔ |
| Notes | Bb D F A |
| Formula | 1 3 5 7 |
| Intervals | root, major third, perfect fifth, major seventh |
| Type | Major seventh chord |
Bbmaj7 across the neck
Bass · 4-string, tuned low to high: E, A, D, G. 24 frets.
- E string: fret 1 F (5), fret 5 A (7), fret 6 Bb (1), fret 10 D (3), fret 13 F (5), fret 17 A (7), fret 18 Bb (1), fret 22 D (3).
- A string: fret 0 A (7), fret 1 Bb (1), fret 5 D (3), fret 8 F (5), fret 12 A (7), fret 13 Bb (1), fret 17 D (3), fret 20 F (5), fret 24 A (7).
- D string: fret 0 D (3), fret 3 F (5), fret 7 A (7), fret 8 Bb (1), fret 12 D (3), fret 15 F (5), fret 19 A (7), fret 20 Bb (1), fret 24 D (3).
- G string: fret 2 A (7), fret 3 Bb (1), fret 7 D (3), fret 10 F (5), fret 14 A (7), fret 15 Bb (1), fret 19 D (3), fret 22 F (5).
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Questions
What notes are in the Bbmaj7 chord?
Bbmaj7 (B flat major seventh) has four notes: B flat, D, F and A. Its formula is 1, 3, 5, 7. Bb is the root, D is the major third, F is the perfect fifth and A is the major seventh.
How do you play Bbmaj7 on bass?
Bass players spread it out rather than strum it. The simplest form is the root and 10th: 1 10, root on the E string, fret 18. Fingers: 1 on E, 2 on G.
What key is Bbmaj7 in?
In major keys, Bbmaj7 is the Imaj7 chord in Bb major and the IVmaj7 in F major. It is diatonic to those keys, so it fits songs in any of them.
What is the difference between Bbmaj7 and Bb?
Bbmaj7 is Bb (Bb, D and F) with a major 7th added: A.