Chords in the Key of Bb
The key of Bb major contains seven chords: Bb, Cm, Dm, Eb, F, Gm and Adim. Every B and every E in the key is flattened, and most songs in Bb lean on Bb, Eb, F and Gm.
The seven chords on guitar
Each chord below opens its own page, with more shapes up the neck, audio for every voicing and a printable chart. Tap the play button on any card to hear it.
The seven chords on piano
The same seven chords on a keyboard, in root position. Each one opens its own page, with every inversion and the finger numbers for both hands.
IBbB♭ D F 
the home chord
iiCmC E♭ G 
the gentle step up from home
iiiDmD F A 
the darkest of the three minors
IVEbE♭ G B♭ 
the lift away from home
VFF A C 
the chord that pulls back home
viGmG B♭ D 
the relative minor
vii°AdimA C E♭ 
the tense one, used sparingly
The seventh chords in Bb major
Add one more note to each chord and the key gains its seventh chords, which is where most jazz and a good deal of soul begins.
Common progressions in Bb major
- I - IV - V
Bb Eb F
The three majors. On guitar this is two barres and an F, which is why the key gets a capo so often.
- ii - V - I
Cm F Bb
As Cm7, F7 and Bbmaj7, probably the most played cadence in all of jazz.
- I - vi - IV - V
Bb Gm Eb F
The fifties turnaround, and a staple of doo wop and early soul.
Why these seven chords
On a stave, Bb major is written with two flats, Bb and Eb, which is how a reader knows the key before playing a note.
Bb is two steps anticlockwise from C, so it takes two flats. Like Eb it is a home key for brass, and a large amount of jazz standards are written here.
The majors are Bb, Eb and F. Gm is the relative minor, and Dm and Cm fill in the softer colours.
On guitar
Bb, Eb and Cm all need barres. Only Dm, F and Gm have common shapes that some players manage without a full barre, and F still catches most beginners out.
A capo at the third fret with G major shapes, or at the first fret with A shapes, both put this key under an open hand.
On piano
Two black keys sit in the Bb major scale. The tonic chord Bb starts on a black key with the other two notes white, which is a comfortable shape.
It is one of the first flat keys most pianists learn after F, and it reads easily.
Questions about the key of Bb
What are the 7 chords in the key of Bb?
Bb, Cm, Dm, Eb, F, Gm and Adim. Bb, Eb and F are major, Cm, Dm and Gm are minor, and Adim is diminished.
How do I play the key of Bb on guitar without barres?
Capo at the third fret and use G major shapes, or capo at the first and use A shapes. Both sound in Bb.
What is the relative minor of Bb major?
G minor, sharing the same two flats and the same seven chords.
What do the numbers next to each chord mean?
They are each chord's place in the key, written as Roman numerals. In Bb major the I is Bb, the IV is Eb and the V is F. The numbering holds in every key, so the V of C is G. That is why progressions get written as numerals like I, V, vi, IV: learn one and you have it in all twelve keys.
Why are some numerals capitals and some lowercase?
The case tells you the chord quality. Capitals are major, which in Bb major means Bb, Eb and F. Lowercase are minor: Cm, Dm and Gm. The small circle on vii° means diminished, and here that is Adim.