Piano chords · Minor 7th chord
B♭m7 piano chord (B♭ minor seventh)
B♭m7 (also written A♯m7) is a minor seventh chord with 4 notes. It sounds mellow and smooth. Here's how to find it, play it and hear it.
B♭ – D♭ – F – A♭ · tap any key to hear it
The notes of B♭m7
B♭m7 is built from 4 notes (1 – ♭3 – 5 – ♭7):
- B♭, the root
- D♭, the minor third
- F, the fifth
- A♭, the minor seventh
B♭ and D♭ and A♭ are black keys, so keep your hand slightly further in, towards the fallboard, to reach them without stretching.
Fingering
- Right hand: 1 on B♭, 2 on D♭, 3 on F, 5 on A♭.
- Left hand: 5 on B♭, 3 on D♭, 2 on F, 1 on A♭.
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 – A♭ |
| 1st inversion | D♭ – F – A♭ – B♭ |
| 2nd inversion | F – A♭ – B♭ – D♭ |
| 3rd inversion | A♭ – B♭ – D♭ – F |
Where B♭m7 belongs
B♭m7 is the ii7 chord in A♭ major, the iii7 chord in G♭ major and the vi7 chord in D♭ major.
B♭m7 is B♭m with a minor seventh, A♭, added on top, which softens it from sad to smooth.
Hear it in a progression
B♭m7 – E♭7 – A♭maj7: ii – V – I in A♭ major, the backbone of jazz.
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♭m7 chord?
B♭m7 (B♭ minor seventh) is made of B♭, D♭, F and A♭: the root, minor third, fifth and minor seventh.
How do you play B♭m7 on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on B♭, 2 on D♭, 3 on F, 5 on A♭, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on B♭, 3 on D♭, 2 on F, 1 on A♭.
How is B♭m7 different from the plain chord?
B♭m7 is B♭m with a minor seventh, A♭, added on top, which softens it from sad to smooth.