Fingering and position
Place the index on the 1st fret of the A string, the middle finger on the 3rd fret of the D string, the ring finger on the 3rd fret of the G string, the little finger on the 3rd fret of the B string, the index on the 1st fret of the high E string. One string is muted, do not play it. A barre covers the 1st fret between strings 1 and 5.
Difficulty
The B♭ chord takes a little practice. Best tackled after the basic open chords.
Often paired chords
Exercise: shuffle it in
A chord on its own gets forgotten. The right reflex: shuffle it with the chords you already know. Launch a shuffle that includes this chord and play it 10 times in different contexts.
The B♭ chord truly comes alive in motion. Launch a shuffle that includes it and play it across 3 or 4 different contexts: that is the best way to embed it in finger memory. Category: Intermediate.
Play a shuffle with B♭Frequently asked questions
- What is the fingering for the B♭ chord on guitar?
- Place the index on the 1st fret of the A string, the middle finger on the 3rd fret of the D string, the ring finger on the 3rd fret of the G string, the little finger on the 3rd fret of the B string, the index on the 1st fret of the high E string. One string is muted, do not play it. A barre covers the 1st fret between strings 1 and 5.
- Is the B♭ chord easy for a beginner?
- The B♭ chord takes a little practice. Best tackled after the basic open chords.
- Does the B♭ chord require a barre?
- Yes, B♭ is played with a barre at fret 1. Lay your index flat across the strings and place the other fingers according to the diagram.
- Which chords pair well with B♭ on guitar?
- B♭ pairs naturally with F, Gm, Cm, E7. Practise them in a shuffle to memorise the transitions.
Further reading