B♭ major chord on guitar (B♭)

B♭ is B♭, D and F. The usual shape is x-1-3-3-3-1, a barre at the 1st fret. Tap Play, then slow it down.

x-1-3-3-3-1 · barre · hard

Notes: B♭ · D · F
Formula: 1 · 3 · 5
First shape: x-1-3-3-3-1

How to play B♭ on guitar

Shape 1, x-1-3-3-3-1, reading from the low E string on the left:

Lay your index finger flat across the 5 strings from the A string to the high E string at the 1st fret.
Middle finger: D string, 3rd fret (F).
Ring finger: G string, 3rd fret (B♭).
Pinky: B string, 3rd fret (D).
Don't play the low E string: start your strum on the A string.

First-fret barres feel impossible at first. Practice the same shape at the 5th fret, where it is easier, then walk it down one fret a day.
This shape uses your pinky. It feels weak at first; press with the tip and let the finger stay curved.

Other ways to play B♭

x-1-3-3-3-x: movable shape, medium. Only the thinner strings sound, which cuts through a band without getting muddy.
6-8-8-7-6-6: barre shape at the 6th fret, medium. Root on the 6th string: move it up or down and it names a different major chord.
x-13-15-15-15-13: barre shape at the 13th fret, medium. This is the open A shape with a barre behind it, root on the 5th string.

Capo shortcuts for B♭

A capo turns an open chord into B♭: capo on the 1st fret and play the open A shape (x-0-2-2-2-0), capo on the 3rd fret and play the open G shape (3-2-0-0-0-3) or capo on the 6th fret and play the open E shape (0-2-2-1-0-0). Handy when the rest of the song's chords also have open shapes in that position.

B♭ chord changes

Songs rarely hold B♭ for long. Here's what your hand does on the moves that come up most.

E♭ (IV in B♭ major): B♭ (x-1-3-3-3-1) to E♭ (x-x-1-3-4-3): the index finger goes to the D string, 1st fret, the middle finger slides across to the G string at the same fret, your ring finger lands on the high E string, 3rd fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. B♭ carries over from one chord to the other. E♭ on guitar
F (V in B♭ major): B♭ (x-1-3-3-3-1) to F (1-3-3-2-1-1): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 1st fret, the middle finger goes to the G string, 2nd fret, move the ring finger to the A string, 3rd fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. Shared note: F. F on guitar
Gm (vi in B♭ major): B♭ (x-1-3-3-3-1) to Gm (3-5-5-3-3-3): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 3rd fret, the middle finger goes to the A string, 5th fret, your ring finger lands on the D string, 5th fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. Listen for B♭ and D, which stay put while the rest moves. Gm on guitar

B♭ has the stable, upbeat sound of every major triad. Major chords are the backbone of most songs; B♭ is home in B♭ major and a common IV or V in the keys around it. The slow arpeggio button above makes that quality easy to hear.

Getting B♭ under your fingers

Arpeggiate x-1-3-3-3-1 from the lowest string: B♭, F, B♭, D, F. Then strum it and listen for the same 5 notes together. Then switch to x-1-3-3-3-x and back four times without looking at your hand.

Written A♯, it's the same chord with the same frets.

B♭ in context

In B♭ major, I–V–vi–IV on guitar is B♭ (x-1-3-3-3-1), F (1-3-3-2-1-1), Gm (3-5-5-3-3-3) and E♭ (x-x-1-3-4-3). About the pop progression.

In B♭ major, I–IV–V on guitar is B♭ (x-1-3-3-3-1), E♭ (x-x-1-3-4-3) and F (1-3-3-2-1-1). About the three-chord progression.

In B♭ major, I–vi–IV–V on guitar is B♭ (x-1-3-3-3-1), Gm (3-5-5-3-3-3), E♭ (x-x-1-3-4-3) and F (1-3-3-2-1-1). About the 50s progression.

B♭ on piano and ukulele

Switching instruments? Try B♭ on ukulele or B♭ on piano, or compare them on the B♭ chord page.

Next to try on guitar

Other major chords

B♭ on guitar: questions

What notes are in B♭ on guitar?

B♭, D and F. In the x-1-3-3-3-1 shape the strings play B♭ (A string), F (D string), B♭ (G string), D (B string) and F (high E string), so B♭ and F are doubled.

What's the easiest way to play B♭ on guitar?

No open-string B♭ exists in standard tuning; x-1-3-3-3-x is the place to start. It uses 4 fingers and no barre, and a capo is worth trying when the song allows.

Is B♭ a barre chord on guitar?

Yes. x-1-3-3-3-1 has your index finger across the 1st fret. x-1-3-3-3-x avoids the barre.

Which string does B♭ start on?

In the x-1-3-3-3-1 shape the lowest string you play is the A string at the 1st fret, which is B♭, the root. Skip the low E string.

Checked automatically: no shape here plays a note outside B♭. Updated September 2026.