Piano chords · Minor chord
B♭m piano chord (B♭ minor)
B♭m (also written A♯m) is a minor chord with 3 notes. It sounds darker, more wistful. Here's how to find it, play it and hear it.
B♭ – D♭ – F · tap any key to hear it
The notes of B♭m
B♭m is built from 3 notes (1 – ♭3 – 5):
- B♭, the root
- D♭, the minor third
- F, the fifth
B♭ and D♭ are black keys, so keep your hand slightly further in, towards the fallboard, to reach them 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♭m belongs
B♭m is the ii chord in A♭ major, the iii chord in G♭ major and the vi chord in D♭ major, and the home chord of B♭ minor. Its relative major is D♭, which shares two of its notes.
B♭ is the same chord with the middle note a half step higher (D♭ becomes D), which turns it from dark to bright.
Hear it in a progression
B♭m – G♭ – D♭ – A♭: i – VI – III – VII, a classic minor-key progression.
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♭m chord?
B♭m (B♭ minor) is made of B♭, D♭ and F: the root, minor third and fifth.
How do you play B♭m 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♭m and B♭?
B♭ is the same chord with the middle note a half step higher (D♭ becomes D), which turns it from dark to bright.