Explore chords · Ukulele
B♭ minor 6th chord on ukulele (B♭m6)
Also called or written B♭m6, B♭min6, B♭min maj6 or B♭ Minor Major 6
B♭ minor 6th contains B♭, D♭, F, and G. The 3rd fret grip mirrors A minor 6th but adds the flat third under the fingers.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 5, 6
- Root positionB♭–D♭–F–GB♭m610-10-9-10
- First inversionD♭–F–G–B♭B♭m6/D♭0-1-1-1
- Second inversionF–G–B♭–D♭B♭m6/F3-5-3-4
- Third inversionG–B♭–D♭–FB♭m6/G6-7-6-8
How do you play a B♭ minor 6th chord on ukulele?
B♭ minor 6th is played at the 3rd fret as 3 5 3 4: index finger on the G string at fret 3, pinky finger on the C string at fret 5, middle finger on the E string at fret 3 and ring finger on the A string at fret 4.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 3 | 1 | B♭ (1) |
| 3 (C) | 5 | 4 | F (5) |
| 2 (E) | 3 | 2 | G (6) |
| 1 (A) | 4 | 3 | D♭ (♭3) |
AdvancedThe pinky stretches to the 5th fret on the C string while the index and middle share the 3rd fret, requiring a wide span.
B♭min6/G inversion
B♭ minor 6th is played at the 6th fret as 6 7 6 8: index finger on the G string at fret 6, ring finger on the C string at fret 7, middle 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) | 6 | 1 | D♭ (♭3) |
| 3 (C) | 7 | 3 | G (6) |
| 2 (E) | 6 | 2 | B♭ (1) |
| 1 (A) | 8 | 4 | F (5) |
9th fret
B♭ minor 6th is played at the 9th fret as 10 10 9 10: middle finger on the G string at fret 10, ring finger on the C string at fret 10, index finger on the E string at fret 9 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 10.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 10 | 2 | F (5) |
| 3 (C) | 10 | 3 | B♭ (1) |
| 2 (E) | 9 | 1 | D♭ (♭3) |
| 1 (A) | 10 | 4 | G (6) |
B♭min6/D♭ inversion
B♭ minor 6th is played in open position as 0 1 1 1: barre your index finger across fret 1. The G string rings open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | open | — | G (6) |
| 3 (C) | 1 | 1 (barre) | D♭ (♭3) |
| 2 (E) | 1 | 1 (barre) | F (5) |
| 1 (A) | 1 | 1 (barre) | B♭ (1) |
Why it sounds like that
B♭ minor 6th is built from the formula 1, ♭3, 5, 6. The major 6th from B♭ to G gives the chord its lift. Compare B♭ minor, which lacks the 6th.
What goes wrong with B♭ minor 6th?
- Letting the pinky collapse and mute the E string.
- Pressing the index finger too hard, which sharpens the G string.
- Failing to keep the ring finger clear of the C string.
When to use it
B♭ minor 6th functions as a tonic in B♭ minor and colours B♭ minor and B♭ 5th chords. It suits jazz ballads and minor blues.
Changing to and from B♭ minor 6th
- Sliding the shape down one fret to the 2nd fret gives A minor 6th.
- From B♭ minor, add the ring finger on the A string, 4th fret.
Which voicing to use
The 3rd fret position keeps B♭ in the bass and works for open-string passages. The B♭min6/D♭ inversion at the 6th fret places D♭ in the bass, darkening the sound.
Other B♭ chords
Common questions
How is B♭ minor 6th written?
B♭ minor 6th is written B♭m6, min maj6, or B♭min6. The ASCII root is Bb. 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 a major 6th (G), while B♭ minor 7th has a minor 7th (A♭). The 6th adds a brighter colour.
Can B♭ minor 6th be played with open strings?
Yes, the B♭min6/G inversion at the 1st fret uses open G and barred strings, but the default 3rd fret position has no open strings.