Bbm chord (B flat minor) on bass
Bbm (B flat minor) has three notes: B flat, D flat and F. Its formula is 1, b3, 5. In major keys, Bbm is the ii chord in Ab major, the iii in F# major and the vi in Db major.
How to play Bbm 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, 1 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 1 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 | Bbm |
|---|---|
| Also written | Bbmin, Bb- |
| Notes | Bb Db F |
| Formula | 1 b3 5 |
| Intervals | root, minor third, perfect fifth |
| Type | Minor chord |
Bbm 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 9 Db (flat 3), fret 13 F (5), fret 18 Bb (1), fret 21 Db (flat 3).
- A string: fret 1 Bb (1), fret 4 Db (flat 3), fret 8 F (5), fret 13 Bb (1), fret 16 Db (flat 3), fret 20 F (5).
- D string: fret 3 F (5), fret 8 Bb (1), fret 11 Db (flat 3), fret 15 F (5), fret 20 Bb (1), fret 23 Db (flat 3).
- G string: fret 3 Bb (1), fret 6 Db (flat 3), fret 10 F (5), fret 15 Bb (1), fret 18 Db (flat 3), fret 22 F (5).
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Questions
What notes are in the Bbm chord?
Bbm (B flat minor) has three notes: B flat, D flat and F. Its formula is 1, b3, 5. Bb is the root, Db is the minor third and F is the perfect fifth.
How do you play Bbm on bass?
Bass players spread it out rather than strum it. The simplest form is the root and 10th: 1 b10, root on the E string, fret 18. Fingers: 1 on E, 1 on G.
What key is Bbm in?
In major keys, Bbm is the ii chord in Ab major, the iii in F# major and the vi in Db major. It is diatonic to those keys, so it fits songs in any of them.
What is the difference between Bbm and Bb?
Bbm has a minor 3rd, Db. Bb major raises it a half step to D. The root and 5th stay the same.