B♭m guitar chord
The B♭ minor chord: every way to play it on the neck, the notes in it, and the scales that sound good over it.
What's in B♭m
- Notes
- B♭ – D♭ – F
- Formula
- 1 – b3 – 5
- Name
- B♭ minor
B♭mB♭ · D♭ · F
3 ways to play it · Tuning E A D G B E
- A shape · 1st fret
- E shape · 6th fret
- D shape · 8th fret
What to play over B♭m
Start with the chord's own notes — B♭, D♭, F — and land on them on the strong beats. Then reach for a scale; which one depends on the chord's job in the song.
- B♭ minor pentatonic scale
The safe start, and the sound of most rock and blues solos.
- B♭ Dorian mode
A minor with a brighter 6th — when the chord is a ii.
- B♭ natural minor scale
The natural minor, when the chord is the song’s home chord (i).
- B♭ Phrygian mode
Dark and Spanish-sounding, with the ♭2 — when the chord is a iii.
Questions
What notes are in a B♭m chord?
B♭m has 3 notes: B♭, D♭, F. Counted from the root, its formula is 1 – b3 – 5.
What scale goes with B♭m?
B♭ minor pentatonic scale is the place to start. The safe start, and the sound of most rock and blues solos.