Also written B♭5, B♭ or B♭ power chord
B♭ 5th contains B♭ and F. The 1st fret position requires a stretch between the first and third frets, making it an intermediate power chord.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
B♭ 5th is built from the root and perfect fifth. It has no third, so it works over major or minor contexts. Compare it to B♭ major, which adds D.
B♭ 5th is the tonic in B♭ major progressions like B♭–E♭–F, the I–IV–V. It fits rock and pop bass lines that need a solid root-fifth foundation. Use it with E♭ major and F major.
The 1st fret position is the standard choice, but the 6th fret voicing offers a warmer tone. The B♭5/F inversion puts the fifth in the bass, which can smooth out a progression.
B♭ 5th is played at the 1st fret as × 1 3 3: index finger on the A string at fret 1, middle finger on the D string at fret 3 and ring finger on the G string at fret 3. The E string stays muted.
Tip — The stretch from the 1st to the 3rd fret across three strings challenges finger independence.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (A) | 1 | 1 | B♭ (1) |
| 2 (D) | 3 | 2 | F (5) |
| 1 (G) | 3 | 3 | B♭ (1) |
B♭ 5th is played at the 6th fret as 6 8 8 ×: index finger on the E string at fret 6, middle finger on the A string at fret 8 and ring finger on the D string at fret 8. The G string stays muted.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 6 | 1 | B♭ (1) |
| 3 (A) | 8 | 2 | F (5) |
| 2 (D) | 8 | 3 | B♭ (1) |
| 1 (G) | muted | — | — |
B♭ 5th is played at the 13th fret as × 13 15 15: index finger on the A string at fret 13, middle finger on the D string at fret 15 and ring finger on the G string at fret 15. The E string stays muted.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (A) | 13 | 1 | B♭ (1) |
| 2 (D) | 15 | 2 | F (5) |
| 1 (G) | 15 | 3 | B♭ (1) |
B♭ 5th is played at the 1st fret as 1 1 3 3: index finger on the E string at fret 1, middle finger on the A string at fret 1, ring finger on the D string at fret 3 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 3.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (5) |
| 3 (A) | 1 | 2 | B♭ (1) |
| 2 (D) | 3 | 3 | F (5) |
| 1 (G) | 3 | 4 | B♭ (1) |
B♭ 5th is played at the 13th fret as 13 13 15 15: index finger on the E string at fret 13, middle finger on the A string at fret 13, ring finger on the D string at fret 15 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 15.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 13 | 1 | F (5) |
| 3 (A) | 13 | 2 | B♭ (1) |
| 2 (D) | 15 | 3 | F (5) |
| 1 (G) | 15 | 4 | B♭ (1) |
B♭ 5th is written as B♭5 or Bb5. It is also spelled A♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
B♭ 5th has only B♭ and F, while B♭ major adds D. The missing third makes B♭ 5th neither major nor minor.
No barre is needed for B♭ 5th. Use separate fingers for the fretted notes.