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B♭ Minor (B♭m) Chord Guitar

The A-shape minor barre right at the nut, the darkest of the flat-key minors.

An A-shape minor barre at the 1st fret, low E damped.
Spells B♭ – D♭ – F, a 1 – ♭3 – 5 minor triad.
The vi of D♭ major and the ii of A♭ major.
Hardest barre position on the neck — the nut gives no help.

Root3rd5th

Index finger barres five strings at the 1st fret (low E muted)

Not played

E6th string

FretMuted

Finger—

Root

ABass5th string

Fret1

Finger1 index

5th

D4th string

Fret3

Finger3 ring

Root

G3rd string

Fret3

Finger4 pinky

3rd

B2nd string

Fret2

Finger2 middle

5th

e1st string

Fret1

Finger1 index

NotesA# – F – C#

Formula1 – ♭3 – 5

Voicingx13321

TonesA#×2·C#×1·F×2

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Questions about B♭ Minor (B♭m)

What notes are in a B♭ Minor (B♭m) chord?

A B♭ Minor (B♭m) chord contains the notes A#, F, C#. It is built from the minor formula 1 - ♭3 - 5, with Bb as the root.

Why is B♭m so much harder than the same shape higher up?

String tension is highest near the nut and the frets are at their widest, so the barring finger has to press further and hold more. The identical grip at the 6th fret is noticeably easier. If it buzzes, try it at the 6th, get the shape clean, then walk it back down one fret at a time.

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