Piano chords · Major chord
B♭ piano chord (B♭ major)
B♭ (also written A♯) is a major chord with 3 notes. It sounds bright and settled. Here's how to find it, play it and hear it.
B♭ – D – F · tap any key to hear it
The notes of B♭
B♭ is built from 3 notes (1 – 3 – 5):
- B♭, the root
- D, the major third
- F, the fifth
B♭ is a black key, so keep your hand slightly further in, towards the fallboard, to reach it without stretching.
Fingering
- Right hand: 1 on B♭, 3 on D, 5 on F.
- Left hand: 5 on B♭, 3 on D, 1 on F.
Press every key at exactly the same moment, with the same weight. If one note sounds louder or a fraction late, the chord sounds uneven: play it slowly and listen for one sound.
Inversions
An inversion is the same notes in a different order, with a different note at the bottom. Inversions let you move between chords without jumping around the keyboard.
| Position | Notes, bottom to top |
|---|---|
| Root position | B♭ – D – F |
| 1st inversion | D – F – B♭ |
| 2nd inversion | F – B♭ – D |
Where B♭ belongs
B♭ is the I chord in B♭ major, the IV chord in F major and the V chord in E♭ major. Its relative minor is Gm, which shares two of its notes.
B♭m is the same chord with the middle note a half step lower (D becomes D♭), which turns it from bright to dark.
Hear it in a progression
B♭ – F – Gm – E♭: I – V – vi – IV, the progression behind countless pop songs.
Playing it, but it doesn't sound right? Ivory listens to you play and tells you what's off: a note that's missing, a hand that lands late, a chord that's uneven. Then it shows you how it should go.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the B♭ chord?
B♭ (B♭ major) is made of B♭, D and F: the root, major third and fifth.
How do you play B♭ on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on B♭, 3 on D, 5 on F, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on B♭, 3 on D, 1 on F.
What's the difference between B♭ and B♭m?
B♭m is the same chord with the middle note a half step lower (D becomes D♭), which turns it from bright to dark.