Notice how this is the EXACT same shape as the A major shape.Įxcept now, the lowest and highest strings need to be pressed down since they aren’t on the 0th fret anymore.Īnd to do this, we flatten the underside edge of our index finger across the 1st fret so that it presses down the lowest and highest strings, like this: So to build a Bb major chord, all we have to do is slide this exact shape up a fret and use the Bb on the 1st fret of the A string as our bass note instead. So to make this shape, you’ll want to start by playing an A major chord like this:Īt this point, we are using the open A string as our bass note, and from this we build an A major chord. Phew, it feels good to be back within the law again…Įven if you don’t know how to play bar chords, then it ain’t that hard and this’ll be a good place to start. It’s best to get used to the bar chords that I’ll go into first, but still – this will work in a code red situation. So we end up just playing Bb and it’s major 3rd twice instead. The reason why this is cheating is that we are omitting the 5th of the chord because it’s a pain to play. * Please don’t report me to the chord police…īut if playing bar chords isn’t in your repertoire yet and you need a quick fix, then this one won’t harm. This is technically cheating because there isn’t really an open shape for Bb. That’s not a nice feeling, and it’s all because you didn’t know how to play a B flat (Bb) chord on guitar, tut tut tut… So today I’m going to teach you how to play a Bb chord so that you can own it in chord progressions.

You get booed off the stage as people throw their leftover cocktail sticks at you, and one stubs your toe in the process. Oh, wait what? You want me to tune down my B string?

B flat 5 guitar chord