B♭ Minor Chord (Bbm, A#m) on Piano
The Bbm chord (Bb minor) is built from 3 notes: Bb – Db – F. It is also written as A#m.
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 |
| Db | b3 | minor 3rd | 3 |
| F | 5 | perfect 5th | 7 |
Inversions
Rearranging which note sits at the bottom gives you 3 playable voicings of the same chord. Inversions let you move between chords with less hand movement.
| Voicing | Notes | Bass note |
|---|---|---|
| Root position | Bb – Db – F | Bb in the bass |
| 1st inversion | Db – F – Bb | Db in the bass |
| 2nd inversion | F – Bb – Db | F in the bass |
How the minor chord is built
Every minor chord uses the same interval formula: 1 (0 semitones), b3 (3 semitones), 5 (7 semitones). Starting on Bb and applying that formula produces Bb, Db, F. Learn the formula once and you can build a minor chord on any of the twelve roots.
Keys that contain Bbm
Every note of Bbm belongs to these keys, so it will sit naturally in a progression written in any of them.
Other chords on Bb
Minor chords on other roots
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in a Bbm chord?
A Bbm chord contains the notes Bb, Db, F. Those are the 1, b3, 5 degrees measured from the root note Bb.
How do you play Bbm on piano?
Place your thumb on Bb, then add Db and F above it. With a right hand in root position the common fingering is 1–3–5.
Is Bbm the same as A#m?
Yes. Bbm and A#m are enharmonic equivalents — they sound identical and use the same piano keys. Which spelling you use depends on the key you are playing in.