B♭ Major 6th Chord (Bbmaj6, A#maj6) on Piano
The Bbmaj6 chord (Bb major 6th) is built from 4 notes: Bb – D – F – G. It is also written as A#maj6.
Play these notes on a MIDI keyboard, your computer keyboard, or the on-screen keys and ChordKeys will name the chord back to you.
Notes and intervals
| Note | Degree | Interval from Bb | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bb | 1 | root | 0 |
| D | 3 | major 3rd | 4 |
| F | 5 | perfect 5th | 7 |
| G | 6 | major 6th | 9 |
Inversions
Rearranging which note sits at the bottom gives you 4 playable voicings of the same chord. Inversions let you move between chords with less hand movement.
| Voicing | Notes | Bass note |
|---|---|---|
| Root position | Bb – D – F – G | Bb in the bass |
| 1st inversion | D – F – G – Bb | D in the bass |
| 2nd inversion | F – G – Bb – D | F in the bass |
| 3rd inversion | G – Bb – D – F | G in the bass |
How the major 6th chord is built
Every major 6th chord uses the same interval formula: 1 (0 semitones), 3 (4 semitones), 5 (7 semitones), 6 (9 semitones). Starting on Bb and applying that formula produces Bb, D, F, G. Learn the formula once and you can build a major 6th chord on any of the twelve roots.
Keys that contain Bbmaj6
Every note of Bbmaj6 belongs to these keys, so it will sit naturally in a progression written in any of them.
Other chords on Bb
Major 6th chords on other roots
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in a Bbmaj6 chord?
A Bbmaj6 chord contains the notes Bb, D, F, G. Those are the 1, 3, 5, 6 degrees measured from the root note Bb.
How do you play Bbmaj6 on piano?
Place your thumb on Bb, then add D and F and G above it. With a right hand in root position the common fingering is 1–2–3–5.
Is Bbmaj6 the same as A#maj6?
Yes. Bbmaj6 and A#maj6 are enharmonic equivalents — they sound identical and use the same piano keys. Which spelling you use depends on the key you are playing in.