Bb chord (B flat major) on bass
Bb (B flat major) has three notes: B flat, D and F. Its formula is 1, 3, 5. In major keys, Bb is the I chord in Bb major, the IV in F major and the V in Eb major.
How to play Bb 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, 3 on A.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 3 on D.
Hear it and see every shape in ScaleSpace →
| Symbol | Bb |
|---|---|
| Also written | Bbmaj, BbM |
| Notes | Bb D F |
| Formula | 1 3 5 |
| Intervals | root, major third, perfect fifth |
| Type | Major chord |
Bb across the neck
Bass · 4-string, tuned low to high: E, A, D, G. 24 frets.
- E string: fret 1 F (5), fret 6 Bb (1), fret 10 D (3), fret 13 F (5), fret 18 Bb (1), fret 22 D (3).
- A string: fret 1 Bb (1), fret 5 D (3), fret 8 F (5), fret 13 Bb (1), fret 17 D (3), fret 20 F (5).
- D string: fret 0 D (3), fret 3 F (5), fret 8 Bb (1), fret 12 D (3), fret 15 F (5), fret 20 Bb (1), fret 24 D (3).
- G string: fret 3 Bb (1), fret 7 D (3), fret 10 F (5), fret 15 Bb (1), fret 19 D (3), fret 22 F (5).
Swipe the chart sideways to see all of it.
Questions
What notes are in the Bb chord?
Bb (B flat major) has three notes: B flat, D and F. Its formula is 1, 3, 5. Bb is the root, D is the major third and F is the perfect fifth.
How do you play Bb 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 Bb in?
In major keys, Bb is the I chord in Bb major, the IV in F major and the V in Eb major. It is diatonic to those keys, so it fits songs in any of them.
What is the difference between Bb and Bbm?
Bb has a major 3rd, D. Bbm lowers it a half step to Db, which is what makes it sound minor. The root and 5th stay the same.