Guitar chord
B Flat Major Barre Chord
A common Bb major barre chord using an A-shape grip at the first fret.
- Symbol
- Bb
- Chord tones
- Bb, D, F
- Formula
- 1 3 5
- Tuning
- Standard
- Frets, low to high
- X 1 3 3 3 1
- Fingers, low to high
- - 1 3 3 3 1
Chord fingering diagram
Read the chart vertically with the nut at the top. X means mute the string, markers above the nut are played open, and numbered markers show fretting-hand fingers.
How to play Bb
Fretting hand
Place finger 1 across strings 5 through 1 at fret 1 and finger 3 across strings 4 through 2 at fret 3. Fret each note close behind the fret wire without resting directly on it.
Clean sound check
Keep the 6th string muted. Keep each barring finger close behind its fret, then test the covered strings one at a time before strumming.
Sound and use
Bb has a stable major-triad sound. Use it as a tonic, subdominant, or dominant chord according to the key, and compare it with the available same-root chord colors below.
Chord tone reference
Use the matching arpeggio page to study the same notes across the full fretboard, or open those chord tones directly in the interactive tool.
More Major chord shapes
Practice the same chord quality from other roots to reinforce its interval sound and common fingering patterns.