Also written B♭5, B♭ or B♭ power chord
B♭ 5th is built from B♭ and F. This two-note shape mutes two strings, so it demands precise right-hand control.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
B♭ 5th uses the formula 1, 5, so it contains only the root B♭ and its perfect 5th F. The perfect 5th interval gives the chord its open, stable sound. Compare it with B♭ major, which adds the major 3rd D.
B♭ 5th works as a power chord in B♭ major progressions like B♭–E♭–F, the I–IV–V. It suits rock and pop when you want a tight, focused sound. Use it to replace B♭ major in a band mix.
The default voicing puts F in the bass, so it sounds like an inversion. For a root-position B♭ 5th, use the shape on the G and C strings at the 3rd and 5th frets.
B♭ 5th is played at the 1st fret as × × 1 1: index finger on the E string at fret 1 and middle finger on the A string at fret 1. The G and C strings stay muted.
Tip — The hardest part is muting the G and C strings cleanly while fretting the E and A strings at the 1st fret.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (C) | muted | — | — |
| 2 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (5) |
| 1 (A) | 1 | 2 | B♭ (1) |
B♭ 5th is played at the 3rd fret as 3 5 × ×: index finger on the G string at fret 3 and middle finger on the C string at fret 5. The E and A strings stay muted.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 3 | 1 | B♭ (1) |
| 3 (C) | 5 | 2 | F (5) |
| 2 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 1 (A) | muted | — | — |
B♭ 5th is played at the 5th fret as × 5 6 ×: index finger on the C string at fret 5 and middle finger on the E string at fret 6. The G and A strings stay muted.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (C) | 5 | 1 | F (5) |
| 2 (E) | 6 | 2 | B♭ (1) |
| 1 (A) | muted | — | — |
B♭ 5th is played at the 6th fret as × × 6 8: index finger on the E string at fret 6 and middle finger on the A string at fret 8. The G and C strings stay muted.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (C) | muted | — | — |
| 2 (E) | 6 | 1 | B♭ (1) |
| 1 (A) | 8 | 2 | F (5) |
B♭ 5th is played at the 10th fret as 10 10 × ×: index finger on the G string at fret 10 and middle finger on the C string at fret 10. The E and A strings stay muted.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 10 | 1 | F (5) |
| 3 (C) | 10 | 2 | B♭ (1) |
| 2 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 1 (A) | muted | — | — |
B♭ 5th is written as B♭ or B♭5, and the ASCII root spelling is Bb. It is also spelled A♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
B♭ major contains B♭, D, and F, while B♭ 5th omits the D. Removing the 3rd makes the chord neither major nor minor.
The open G and C strings are not chord tones, so they must be muted to keep the chord clean. Muting them avoids unwanted notes.