Bb major chord on piano
The Bb major chord is Bb–D–F. It's the same chord as A# major: one sound, two spellings. Tap the keys below to hear it.
BbBb · D · F
Tap the keys to hear them
1 = thumb, 5 = little finger.
Bb major is built on the black key between A and B, with the addition of D and F on white keys. It comes up in a lot of jazz standards. Its relative minor is G minor.
You've heard it in "Autumn Leaves" by Joseph Kosma.
How the Bb major chord is built
A# major is the same chord. Which spelling a piece uses depends on its key signature. On the keyboard, the keys you press are identical.
Fingerings & inversions
Standard fingerings use the thumb (1), the little finger (5), and either the index (2) or middle finger (3). Hand size and musical context change what feels natural. Switch Fingers on above to see 1-3-5 land for Bb.
| Position | Notes (bottom → top) | Right hand | Left hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root position | Bb – D – F | 1-3-5 | 5-3-1 |
| 1st inversion | D – F – Bb | 1-2-5 | 5-3-1 |
| 2nd inversion | F – Bb – D | 1-3-5 | 5-2-1 |
Inversion diagrams
The inversion buttons above play all 3 shapes of Bb.
Popular songs to play with the Bb piano chord
- Autumn Leaves by Joseph Kosma
- Cheek to Cheek by Irving Berlin
Songs are where chords start making sense. Skoove takes you from Bb to full songs, step by step.
Start a piano lesson for freeWhere Bb shows up
Bb major is the home chord (I) of Bb major, a key with two flats. It also plays the V in Eb and the IV in F, and its relative minor, G minor, is built from the same scale. Songs in any of these keys make constant use of Bb.
Try it inside the two progressions that carry most pop songs: Bb–Eb–F and Bb–F–Gm–Eb.
Common questions
What notes are in the Bb major chord?
The Bb major chord is made up of Bb, D, F. Bb is the black key between A and B, and starting the chord there shifts the whole hand slightly back on the keyboard.
What fingers should I use to play Bb on piano?
In root position, the standard fingering is 1-3-5 in the right hand and 5-3-1 in the left hand (1 = thumb, 5 = little finger). The thumb starts on Bb; D and F are white keys, so fingers 3 and 5 drop back down to the naturals.
Is Bb major the same as A# major?
Yes, the keys you press are identical and the sound is the same. This is known as enharmonic equivalents. Sheet music in flat keys writes Bb major, while sharp-key contexts spell the same sound A# major. In print and in search, Bb major is by far the more common of the two.
What chords are in the key of Bb major?
The seven diatonic chords in Bb major are Bb major, C minor, D minor, Eb major, F major, G minor, A diminished.
What are the notes in the Bb major scale?
The Bb major scale is Bb – C – D – Eb – F – G – A – Bb. The Bb chord is built from the 1st, 3rd and 5th notes of that scale.
What is the difference between Bb major and Bbmaj7?
Bbmaj7 adds the seventh note of the scale, A, on top of the Bb–D–F triad. The extra note gives the chord a richer, warmer sound.
More Bb chords
Reviewed by
Composer, arranger and music educator. BA Music (LIPA), MA Composition (University of Salford).
Last updated 2026-08-13