B♭ Major
B♭maj
Notes
B♭ · D · F
Intervals
- RootB♭ (1P)
- Major 3rdD (3M)
- Perfect 5thF (5P)
Fretboard
Adjust labels, frets, and palette in the interactive view.
Voicings & shapes
CAGED shapes (5)
Triad inversions (9)
Spread / open triads (8)
About
The B♭ major triad (B♭–D–F) is built from a root, major third, and perfect fifth. Its stability comes from the perfect fifth — the strongest consonant interval — anchored by the major third that gives it its bright, open character. It serves as the tonal center (I chord) in B♭ major and the target of resolution from the dominant. Common moves include B♭–E♭–F (I–IV–V) and the F7–B♭ cadence (V–I) that defines tonal music. On guitar, the fifth can be doubled or omitted in dense voicings without losing identity, but the major third (D) is indispensable — it is the one note distinguishing major from minor and from a power chord. Compared to B♭m, the raised third is the entire difference in color.
Chord diagrams
Bb Major voicing charts — tap a sheet to open it full size to save or print.
Similar chords
Chords sharing two or more notes with this one, ranked by overlap.
Scales containing this chord
- B♭ Lydian (I)
- B♭ Major (I)
- B♭ Major Pentatonic (deg 1)
- B♭ Mixolydian (I)
- A Locrian (II)
- A Phrygian (II)
- A♭ Diminished (deg 2)
- A♭ Lydian (II)
- B Diminished (deg 8)
- C Dorian (VII)
- C Mixolydian (VII)
- C Natural Minor (VII)
- D Diminished (deg 6)
- D Harmonic Minor (VI)
- D Locrian (VI)
- D Natural Minor (VI)
- D Phrygian (VI)
- E Locrian (V)
- E♭ Harmonic Minor (V)
- E♭ Lydian (V)
- E♭ Major (V)
- E♭ Melodic Minor (V)
- F Diminished (deg 4)
- F Dorian (IV)
- F Major (IV)
- F Melodic Minor (IV)
- F Mixolydian (IV)
- G Blues (deg 2)
- G Dorian (III)
- G Minor Pentatonic (deg 2)
- G Natural Minor (III)
- G Phrygian (III)
Scales whose notes include every chord tone. The Roman numeral (or scale degree) marks the chord root’s position in the scale.