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B♭ minor chord on piano

B♭m is a minor chord built on B♭. It uses the notes B♭ - D♭ - F and sounds darker, softer and more emotional. It is also written as A♯ minor.

B♭ minor chord keyboard diagram: B♭, D♭, FFB♭D♭
Notes
B♭ D♭ F
Formula
1 - ♭3 - 5
Right hand fingering
1 - 3 - 5
Left hand fingering
5 - 3 - 1
Chord symbol
B♭m

How to play B♭m step by step

  1. Find B♭. B♭ is the last black key in each group of three. The same key is also called A♯.
  2. Add D♭, 3 half steps above B♭.
  3. Add F, 7 half steps above B♭.
  4. Press all 3 keys together with fingers 1 - 3 - 5 of your right hand. Keep your wrist level and let the weight of your arm do the work.

B♭m inversions

An inversion uses the same notes in a different order. Inversions let your hand move less between chords, which is how pianists make chord changes sound smooth.

B♭m Root position: B♭, D♭, FFB♭D♭
Root positionB♭ - D♭ - F
B♭m 1st inversion: D♭, F, B♭FD♭B♭
1st inversionD♭ - F - B♭
B♭m 2nd inversion: F, B♭, D♭FB♭D♭
2nd inversionF - B♭ - D♭

Which keys use the B♭m chord?

Knowing where a chord lives helps you guess the next chord in a song. B♭m appears naturally in these keys:

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the B♭ minor chord?

The B♭ minor chord (B♭m) contains 3 notes: B♭, D♭, F. Its formula is 1 - ♭3 - 5.

How do you play B♭m on piano?

Put your right-hand thumb on B♭ and play B♭, D♭, F together using fingers 1 - 3 - 5. With the left hand, use fingers 5 - 3 - 1.

Is B♭ minor the same as A♯ minor?

Yes. B♭ minor and A♯ minor use exactly the same piano keys. The name you see depends on the key signature of the piece.

Other B♭ chords

Other minor chords