Bbm7 Guitar Chord
Bb Minor 7th · also written A#m7 · Bb–Db–F–Ab
Bbm7 is the Bb minor 7th chord: Bb–Db–F–Ab. Its sound is mellow and soulful — softer than a plain minor chord, at home in funk, R&B, and jazz ii–V–I progressions. It's also written as A#m7 — same notes, same shapes, different spelling.
Bbm7 softens the Bb minor triad with a ♭7 (Ab). It's the standard ii chord in Ab major — the first chord of the ii–V–I, jazz's most important progression — and a staple of funk vamps and R&B ballads.
The most common way to play Bbm7 is the am7 shape at the 1st fret (x 1 3 1 2 1, low E string to high E string). Below you'll find 8 ways to play it across the neck, from open position to barre and shell voicings, with the theory behind the chord and the progressions it lives in.
How to Play Bbm7: 8 Voicings
Frets are listed from the low E string to the high E string. x = don't play that string, 0 = open string.
Bbm7 Chord Theory
| Interval | R | ♭3 | 5 | ♭7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | Bb | Db | F | Ab |
Bbm7 is built from the Bb minor scale.
Bbm7 Chord FAQ
What notes are in the Bbm7 chord?
Bbm7 contains 4 notes: Bb (R), Db (♭3), F (5), Ab (♭7). The interval formula for a minor 7th chord is R–♭3–5–♭7.
What is the easiest way to play Bbm7 on guitar?
Use the am7 shape at the 1st fret: x 1 3 1 2 1 (frets listed from the low E string to the high E string, x = don't play that string). Bbm7 has no open-position shape in standard tuning, so this movable form is the standard starting point.
Is Bbm7 a major or minor chord?
Bbm7 is built on a minor triad (Bb–Db–F) with the ♭7 added, so it behaves as a minor-family chord.
Is Bbm7 the same as A#m7?
Yes. Bb and A# are enharmonic equivalents — the same pitch written two ways. Bbm7 and A#m7 use identical shapes and frets; which spelling you see depends on the key of the song.
What keys use the Bbm7 chord?
Bbm7 appears diatonically in Db major (as vi), Ab major (as ii), and F# major (as iii) — plus it's the home chord (i) of Bb minor.
Related Chords
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