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B♭ minor 6th chord on bass (B♭m6)
Also called or written B♭m6, B♭min6, B♭min maj6 or B♭ Minor Major 6
B♭ minor 6th is built from B♭, D♭, F, and G. The 9-10-8-10 shape requires precise finger independence.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 5, 6
- Root positionB♭–D♭–F–GB♭m6no shape on this instrument
- First inversionD♭–F–G–B♭B♭m6/D♭9-10-8-10
- Second inversionF–G–B♭–D♭B♭m6/F13-13-11-12
- Third inversionG–B♭–D♭–FB♭m6/G3-4-3-3
How do you play a B♭ minor 6th chord on bass?
B♭ minor 6th is played at the 8th fret as 9 10 8 10: middle finger on the E string at fret 9, ring finger on the A string at fret 10, index finger on the D string at fret 8 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 10.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 9 | 2 | D♭ (♭3) |
| 3 (A) | 10 | 3 | G (6) |
| 2 (D) | 8 | 1 | B♭ (1) |
| 1 (G) | 10 | 4 | F (5) |
AdvancedThe wide stretch between the index on fret 8 and pinky on fret 10 taxes smaller hands.
B♭min6/F inversion
B♭ minor 6th is played at the 11th fret as 13 13 11 12: ring finger on the E string at fret 13, pinky finger on the A string at fret 13, index finger on the D string at fret 11 and middle finger on the G string at fret 12.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 13 | 3 | F (5) |
| 3 (A) | 13 | 4 | B♭ (1) |
| 2 (D) | 11 | 1 | D♭ (♭3) |
| 1 (G) | 12 | 2 | G (6) |
B♭min6/G inversion
B♭ minor 6th is played at the 3rd fret as 3 4 3 3: index finger on the E string at fret 3, pinky finger on the A string at fret 4, middle finger on the D string at fret 3 and ring finger on the G string at fret 3.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 3 | 1 | G (6) |
| 3 (A) | 4 | 4 | D♭ (♭3) |
| 2 (D) | 3 | 2 | F (5) |
| 1 (G) | 3 | 3 | B♭ (1) |
Why it sounds like that
B♭ minor 6th uses the 1, ♭3, 5, 6 formula, adding G to the B♭ minor triad. The major sixth interval gives it a bright, unresolved color. Compare with B♭ minor to hear the difference.
What goes wrong with B♭ minor 6th?
- Letting the index finger collapse and buzz the 2nd string.
- Allowing the pinky to touch the 1st string, deadening the G.
- Strumming the open 5th string, which adds an unwanted B♭.
When to use it
B♭ minor 6th works as a tonic in B♭ minor progressions, especially in jazz and blues. Try it in a i–iv–v with B♭ minor and F minor. It also suits dorian grooves.
Changing to and from B♭ minor 6th
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 8th fret gives A♭ minor 6th.
- Sliding the shape up one fret to the 9th fret gives B minor 6th.
Which voicing to use
The D♭ inversion at fret 9 puts the ♭3 in the bass, softening the chord. The G inversion at fret 3 gives a brighter, more open sound. Choose the F inversion at fret 13 for a higher register.
Other B♭ chords
Common questions
How is B♭ minor 6th written?
B♭ minor 6th is written B♭m6, min maj6, or B♭min6. The root is B♭, also written Bb. It is also called Minor Major 6. It is also spelled A♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the difference between B♭ minor 6th and B♭ minor 7th?
B♭ minor 6th has G, while B♭ minor 7th has A♭. The sixth creates a brighter, more melodic tension than the seventh. Use minor 6th for a dorian or melodic minor sound.
Can I play B♭ minor 6th with a barre?
The supplied positions do not use a barre. The finger plan assigns one finger per string. A barre would make the stretch harder.
Why does the G inversion sound different?
The G inversion puts the sixth in the bass, creating a first-inversion feel. It is less stable than the D♭ inversion and works well as a passing chord.