Bbm Guitar Chord
Bb Minor · also written A#m · Bb–Db–F
Bbm is the Bb minor chord: Bb–Db–F. Its sound is dark and emotional — the melancholic counterpart to major, built on the flat 3rd. It's also written as A#m — same notes, same shapes, different spelling.
Bbm is the relative minor of Db major, so the two share every note and swap constantly in songs. You'll also find it as the ii chord in Ab major and the vi chord in Db major — the emotional pivot of countless pop progressions.
The most common way to play Bbm is the a-shape minor at the 1st fret (x 1 3 3 2 1, low E string to high E string). Below you'll find 7 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 Bbm: 7 Voicings
Frets are listed from the low E string to the high E string. x = don't play that string, 0 = open string.
Bbm Chord Theory
| Interval | R | ♭3 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Note | Bb | Db | F |
Bbm is built from the Bb minor scale.
Bbm Chord FAQ
What notes are in the Bbm chord?
Bbm contains 3 notes: Bb (R), Db (♭3), F (5). The interval formula for a minor chord is R–♭3–5.
What is the easiest way to play Bbm on guitar?
Use the a-shape minor at the 1st fret: x 1 3 3 2 1 (frets listed from the low E string to the high E string, x = don't play that string). Bbm has no open-position shape in standard tuning, so this movable form is the standard starting point.
What is the difference between Bbm and Bb?
One note: the 3rd. Bb major uses the major 3rd (D) while Bb minor flattens it to Db. That half-step is the entire difference between the bright minor sound and the darker major sound.
Is Bbm the same as A#m?
Yes. Bb and A# are enharmonic equivalents — the same pitch written two ways. Bbm and A#m use identical shapes and frets; which spelling you see depends on the key of the song.
What keys use the Bbm chord?
Bbm 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
Hear yourself play Bbm
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