Guitar chord · Intermediate (barre)
B flat minor 7th chord (B♭m7) — guitar chord chart
B♭m7 is a minor 7th chord built on B♭. Its notes are B♭, D♭, F, A♭. A minor chord with a flat 7th: mellow and smooth rather than sad — a staple of funk, R&B and jazz ii–V–I progressions. It’s also written A♯m7.
B♭m7 chord charts
Numbers = fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little). ○ open string, × don’t play. Low E string on the left.
How to play B♭m7
- Lay your index finger flat across fret 1, from the 5th string to the 1st string (the barre).
- Ring (3) on the 4th string, fret 3 (F).
- Middle (2) on the 2nd string, fret 2 (C♯).
- Strum from the 5th string down; don’t play string 6.
- Pick the strings one at a time: each note should ring clearly — if one buzzes, move that finger closer to the fret.
No barre yet? Put a capo on fret 1 and play the open Am7 shape — it sounds as B♭m7. Work out other positions with the capo calculator.
Notes in B♭m7
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B♭ | root |
| ♭3 | D♭ | minor 3rd |
| 5 | F | perfect 5th |
| ♭7 | A♭ | minor 7th |
Progressions with B♭m7
Drill these changes with the chord-change trainer and read how to change chords faster.
FAQ
- What notes are in the B♭m7 chord?
- B♭m7 (B flat minor 7th) has 4 notes: B♭, D♭, F, A♭.
- Is B♭m7 hard to play?
- It’s a barre chord, but with a capo on fret 1 you can use the open Am7 shape instead. Expect a few weeks of practice for a clean barre.
- What’s the difference between B♭m7 and B♭?
- B♭ is B♭ D F. A minor chord with a flat 7th: mellow and smooth rather than sad — a staple of funk, R&B and jazz ii–V–I progressions.
- Is B♭m7 the same as A♯m7?
- Yes — they sound the same (enharmonic equivalents). Which name is used depends on the key of the song; the fingerings are identical.