B♭ minor chordB♭m

Built from

• B♭root
• D♭minor 3rd
• F5th

Lowering the 3rd by one fret is the only difference from major, and it changes the whole mood.

Hear it in a progression

• Epic minor

  Film scores and stadium anthems. In B♭ minor.

  Capo and transpose

  1. B♭mi
  2. G♭VI
  3. D♭III
  4. A♭VII

• Minor cadence

  Dark, then a strong pull home. In B♭ minor.

  Capo and transpose

  1. B♭mi
  2. E♭miv
  3. F7V7
  4. B♭mi

• Andalusian cadence

  Flamenco and surf rock, stepping down. In B♭ minor.

  Capo and transpose

  1. B♭mi
  2. A♭VII
  3. G♭VI
  4. FV

Where it goes next

Thinking in B♭ minor, where it is the i chord.

• G♭

  VI. Opens up into something bittersweet.

• E♭m

  iv. Goes darker still.

• A♭

  VII. Steps down: a rock and folk staple.

• D♭

  III. Brightens into the relative major.

Sounds close

• G♭maj7

  Shares 3 of its notes. Both have B♭, D♭ and F.

• D♭

  Its relative major: same key, brighter. Both have D♭ and F.

• G♭

  Shares 2 of its notes. Both have B♭ and D♭.

• D♭7

  Shares 2 of its notes. Both have D♭ and F.

Scales that fit

Notes you can play over this chord, simplest first.

• B♭ minor
• B♭ minor pentatonic
• B♭ blues
• B♭ dorian
• B♭ phrygian
• B♭ harmonic minor

Keys it lives in

• B♭ minoras i
• E♭ minoras v
• F minoras iv
• D♭ majoras vi
• A♭ majoras ii
• F♯ majoras iii