Explore chords · Ukulele
B♭ 5th chord on ukulele (B♭5)
Also called or written B♭5, B♭ or B♭ power chord
B♭ 5th contains B♭ and F. This power chord at the 3rd fret requires muting two strings, a typical intermediate challenge.
How it is built
Formula 1, 5
How do you play a B♭ 5th chord on ukulele?
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.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 3 | 1 | B♭ (1) |
| 3 (C) | 5 | 2 | F (5) |
| 2 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 1 (A) | muted | — | — |
IntermediateThe index and middle fingers must fret cleanly while both remaining strings are muted, requiring precise finger placement.
6th fret
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.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (C) | muted | — | — |
| 2 (E) | 6 | 1 | B♭ (1) |
| 1 (A) | 8 | 2 | F (5) |
B♭5/F inversion · fret 1
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.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (C) | muted | — | — |
| 2 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (5) |
| 1 (A) | 1 | 2 | B♭ (1) |
B♭5/F inversion · fret 5
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.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (C) | 5 | 1 | F (5) |
| 2 (E) | 6 | 2 | B♭ (1) |
| 1 (A) | muted | — | — |
10th fret
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.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 10 | 1 | F (5) |
| 3 (C) | 10 | 2 | B♭ (1) |
| 2 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 1 (A) | muted | — | — |
Why it sounds like that
B♭ 5th is built from the formula 1, 5, using the root B♭ and its perfect fifth F. The perfect fifth gives the chord its strong, hollow sound. Compare B♭ 5th with B♭ major, which adds the major third D.
What goes wrong with B♭ 5th?
- Letting the E or A string ring open because the muting finger is not touching it.
- Pressing the G string too hard and pulling it sharp.
- Flattening the middle finger onto the E string and accidentally fretting it.
When to use it
B♭ 5th functions as a power chord in B♭ major progressions like B♭–E♭–F, the I–IV–V in B♭ major. B♭ 5th suits rock and blues where a neutral fifth sound is preferred.
Changing to and from B♭ 5th
- Move from B♭ 5th to E♭ major by lifting the middle finger and placing it on the C string 3rd fret while the index stays on the G string 3rd fret.
- Slide B♭ 5th up one fret to B 5th by moving both fingers together from the 3rd fret to the 4th fret.
Which voicing to use
The 3rd fret position keeps B♭ in the bass for a grounded sound. The B♭5/F inversions put F in the bass, which lightens the chord and works well when moving to E♭ major or G minor.
Other B♭ chords
Common questions
How is B♭ 5th written?
B♭ 5th is written as B♭5 or B♭. On a keyboard you may see Bb5 because the flat symbol is not always available. It is also spelled A♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Why does B♭ 5th sound different from B♭ major?
B♭ 5th omits the major third D, leaving only the root and fifth. Without the third the chord has no major or minor quality, which lets it fit both B♭ major and B♭ minor contexts.
Can I play B♭ 5th higher up the neck?
Yes, the 6th fret position plays B♭ and F on the E and A strings. That register is brighter and cuts through a mix, but you lose the low G string warmth.