Notes and intervals of B♭ minor
- B♭1 · root
- D♭♭3 · minor third
- F5 · perfect fifth
It shows up in ballads, boleros, pasillos and almost all popular music; in a major key it's usually the relative chord or the second degree.
Progressions with B♭m
Minor with a dominant: i – iv – V7 – i
The V7 comes from the harmonic minor scale and is typical of boleros, pasillos and ballads.
Modern minor: i – VI – III – VII
A very common progression in pop and rock, in B♭ natural minor.
Which keys contain B♭ minor?
B♭m belongs to 6 keys: in each one it plays a different role depending on the degree (the Roman numeral).
| Key | Degree |
|---|---|
| D♭ major | vi |
| F♯ major | iii |
| A♭ major | ii |
| D♯ natural minor | v |
| F natural minor | iv |
| B♭ natural minor | i |
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the B♭ minor chord?
B♭ minor (B♭m) has 3 notes: B♭ (root), D♭ (minor third), F (perfect fifth).
How do you play B♭ minor on guitar?
The most common shape uses a barre at fret 1: x 1 3 3 2 1 (from the 6th to the 1st string). Barre fret 1 with your index finger, from the 5th to the 1st string. Place finger 3 (ring finger) at fret 3 on the 4th string (D). Place finger 4 (pinky) at fret 3 on the 3rd string (G). Place finger 2 (middle finger) at fret 2 on the 2nd string (B). Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.
Is B♭m the same as A♯m?
Yes: B♭ minor and A♯ minor sound the same and are played the same way (they are enharmonic). The spelling depends on the key of the song; you'll see both names in sheet music and songbooks.
What is the difference between B♭ minor and B♭ major?
Only the third changes: B♭ minor uses D♭ and B♭ major uses D. That note makes the chord sound darker (minor) or brighter (major).
How do you write B♭ minor in chord notation?
It is written B♭m; you may also see B♭min or B♭-. Letter notation corresponds to solfège note names: C = Do, D = Re, E = Mi, F = Fa, G = Sol, A = La, and B = Si.