B♭ major
Two flats, B♭ E♭. Seven notes: B♭ C D E♭ F G A. Try the key’s seven chords in different places on the neck. Press a shape to hear it and see its notes.
A♯ and B♭ are the same pitch. This scale is written as B♭ major because that spelling needs fewer accidentals than A♯ major.
Across one chord in different positions. Down the chords in one position. | ||||
| IMainB♭B♭ · D · F | ||||
| iiCmC · E♭ · G | ||||
| iiiDmD · F · A | ||||
| IVMainE♭E♭ · G · B♭ | ||||
| VMainFF · A · C | ||||
| viMainGmG · B♭ · D | ||||
| vii°A°A · C · E♭ |
Sounds good
Three patterns to try
Walk up to E♭. Strum B♭, pick C and D on the way up, land on E♭. Listen to how the bass connects the chords.
Triads on the top three strings. Three notes, three places, all B♭. Try them when a full six-string chord feels too busy.
- LowFrets 1–3
- MiddleFrets 6–7
- HighFrets 10–11
Same chords, higher. The four main chords in frets 1 to 4, then again in frets 5 to 8. Listen to how the higher voicings change the sound.
Exercises in B♭ major
Four drills, with a click
Play along with the metronome. The neck above highlights each step.
- Four chords in one positionB♭ – E♭ – F – Gm without leaving frets 2 to 6.70 bpmLevel 1
- Climb with one chordB♭ in all four places, low to high. Hear it brighten.60 bpmLevel 1
- Walk up to E♭Strum B♭, then walk the bass C – D into E♭.90 bpmLevel 2
- Scale, then chordsPlay the scale in frets 5 to 8, then the four chords there.70 bpmLevel 2
Why two flats
F major with E lowered
- B♭
- C
- D
- E♭
- F
- G
- A
- B♭
- C
- D
- E
- F
- G
- A
B♭ major is F major with E lowered to E♭.