Also written B♭mMaj7, B♭minmaj7 or B♭mmaj7
B♭ minor major 7th contains B♭, D♭, F, and A. Its wide stretch from the 6th fret to the 8th fret demands careful finger placement.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
B♭ minor major 7th is built from the formula 1, ♭3, 5, 7. The minor 3rd between B♭ and D♭ gives the chord its minor quality, while the major 7th between B♭ and A adds a leading tone. Contrast this with B♭ minor, which omits the major 7th.
Use B♭ minor major 7th in jazz ballads or neo-soul lines where the major 7th adds tension. Pair it with B♭ minor or B♭ 5th for contrast.
The 6th fret position keeps B♭ in the bass for a grounded sound. The B♭minmaj7/A inversion places A in the bass, creating a smoother voice leading into chords like B♭ minor.
B♭ minor major 7th is played at the 6th fret as 6 8 7 6: index finger on the E string at fret 6, pinky finger on the A string at fret 8, ring finger on the D string at fret 7 and middle finger on the G string at fret 6.
Tip — The pinky must stretch to the 8th fret on the A string while the index stays at the 6th fret on the E string.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 6 | 1 | B♭ (1) |
| 3 (A) | 8 | 4 | F (5) |
| 2 (D) | 7 | 3 | A (7) |
| 1 (G) | 6 | 2 | D♭ (♭3) |
B♭ minor major 7th is played at the 3rd fret as 5 4 3 3: barre your index finger across fret 3, ring finger on the E string at fret 5 and middle finger on the A string at fret 4.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 5 | 3 | A (7) |
| 3 (A) | 4 | 2 | D♭ (♭3) |
| 2 (D) | 3 | 1 (barre) | F (5) |
| 1 (G) | 3 | 1 (barre) | B♭ (1) |
B♭ minor major 7th is written as B♭mmaj7, mmaj7, mM7, or B♭minmaj7. The root can be typed as Bb. It is also spelled A♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
B♭ minor major 7th has a major 7th (A), while B♭ minor 7th has a minor 7th (A♭). The major 7th creates a leading tone that pulls strongly to the root.
The minor 3rd (D♭) and major 7th (A) form an augmented 5th interval, which is unstable. This tension is characteristic of the minor major 7th chord.
Yes, the B♭minmaj7/A inversion at the 3rd fret places the major 7th in the bass. This voicing is useful for connecting to chords with A in the bass.