Explore chords · Ukulele
B♭ 6th chord on ukulele (B♭6)
Also called or written B♭6 or B♭
B♭ 6th contains B♭, D, F, and G. This advanced ukulele shape places the root on the G string and the sixth on the A string, with a wide stretch across the middle frets.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, 6
- Root positionB♭–D–F–GB♭610-10-10-10
- First inversionD–F–G–B♭B♭6/D0-2-1-1
- Second inversionF–G–B♭–DB♭6/F3-5-3-5
- Third inversionG–B♭–D–FB♭6/G7-7-6-8
How do you play a B♭ 6th chord on ukulele?
B♭ 6th is played at the 3rd fret as 3 5 3 5: index finger on the G string at fret 3, ring finger on the C string at fret 5, middle finger on the E string at fret 3 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 5.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 3 | 1 | B♭ (1) |
| 3 (C) | 5 | 3 | F (5) |
| 2 (E) | 3 | 2 | G (6) |
| 1 (A) | 5 | 4 | D (3) |
AdvancedThe wide stretch from the 3rd fret on the G string to the 5th fret on the A string demands flexible fingers and precise placement.
B♭6/G inversion
B♭ 6th is played at the 6th fret as 7 7 6 8: middle finger on the G string at fret 7, ring finger on the C string at fret 7, index finger on the E string at fret 6 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 8.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 7 | 2 | D (3) |
| 3 (C) | 7 | 3 | G (6) |
| 2 (E) | 6 | 1 | B♭ (1) |
| 1 (A) | 8 | 4 | F (5) |
10th fret
B♭ 6th is played at the 10th fret as 10 10 10 10: barre your index finger across fret 10.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 10 | 1 (barre) | F (5) |
| 3 (C) | 10 | 1 (barre) | B♭ (1) |
| 2 (E) | 10 | 1 (barre) | D (3) |
| 1 (A) | 10 | 1 (barre) | G (6) |
B♭6/D inversion
B♭ 6th is played in open position as 0 2 1 1: ring finger on the C string at fret 2, index finger on the E string at fret 1 and middle finger on the A string at fret 1. The G string rings open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | open | — | G (6) |
| 3 (C) | 2 | 3 | D (3) |
| 2 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (5) |
| 1 (A) | 1 | 2 | B♭ (1) |
Why it sounds like that
B♭ 6th is built from the formula 1, 3, 5, 6, adding a major 6th (G) to a B♭ major triad. The major 6th gives the chord its warm, jazzy color. Compared to B♭ major, the extra note softens the triad without adding tension.
What goes wrong with B♭ 6th?
- Letting the pinky collapse onto the A string, causing a buzz or muted note.
- Fretting the C string with the ring finger too far from the fret, making the D note sharp.
- Allowing the open G string to be damped by the palm, losing the bass note.
When to use it
B♭ 6th works as the I chord in B♭ major, especially in progressions like I–IV–V–I (B♭–E♭–F–B♭). Its smooth, jazzy sound suits swing, bossa nova, and ballads. Try it in a I–V–vi–IV loop with F major and G minor for a classic pop feel.
Changing to and from B♭ 6th
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 1st fret gives A♭ 6th.
- From B♭ 6th, lift the pinky and move the ring finger to the 4th fret of the C string to form B♭ major.
Which voicing to use
The 3rd fret voicing has B♭ in the bass, giving a solid root-position sound. For a lighter, higher-register tone, use the B♭6/G inversion at the 1st fret, where the G on the bottom adds a subtle lift. The B♭6/F inversion at the 10th fret is a full barre that works well for strumming in higher keys.
Other B♭ chords
Common questions
How is B♭ 6th written?
B♭ 6th is written as B♭6 or B♭. On a keyboard, type "Bb6" since ♭ is not a standard key. It is also spelled A♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the difference between B♭ 6th and B♭ major 7th?
B♭ 6th adds a major 6th (G) to the B♭ major triad, while B♭ major 7th adds a major 7th (A). The 6th chord sounds warmer and less dissonant than the major 7th.
Can I play B♭ 6th with a barre?
The 3rd fret voicing uses individual fingers, but the 10th fret inversion is a full barre across all strings. The barre version is easier to move up the neck but requires more finger strength.
Why does the B♭6/G inversion have an open G string?
The open G string is the 6th of the chord, so it is a chord tone. Muting it would remove the note that gives the chord its name, so it is left open.