Piano chord
B♭6B flat sixth
- B♭1
- D3
- F5
- G6
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 9semitones
- Fingers
- 1-3-4-5
How to play B♭6 on piano
- Find B♭: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Right hand: 1 on B♭, 3 on D, 4 on F, 5 on G.
- Or with the left hand: 5 on B♭, 3 on D, 2 on F, 1 on G.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · B♭ – D – F – G
1st inversion · D – F – G – B♭
2nd inversion · F – G – B♭ – D
3rd inversion · G – B♭ – D – F
Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.
B♭6 inversions
Use these 4 positions to move between chords with as little hand movement as possible. Root position starts on B♭; the inversions start on the other notes of the chord.
- Root positionbass: B♭Right hand 1-3-4-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 1st inversionbass: DRight hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 2nd inversionbass: FRight hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-3-1
- 3rd inversionbass: GRight hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
B♭6 with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays B♭ an octave lower, the right hand plays B♭–D–F–G.
B♭6 on other instruments
About the B♭6 chord
To build B flat sixth, take these 4 notes from the root up: B♭ (1), D (3), F (5), G (6). A major sixth: a major triad plus the sixth. Sweet and a little retro, used to end songs in swing and old pop.
The keys are B♭ – D – F – G, counted up from B♭; the distance from the lowest to the highest key is 9 semitones. Any hand that reaches an octave can hold B♭6, so it works in either hand.
In the inversions of B♭6 the root moves up and another note takes the bass. In the 1st inversion the bass is D (D–F–G–B♭). In the 2nd inversion the bass is F (F–G–B♭–D). In the 3rd inversion the bass is G (G–B♭–D–F).
Compared with B♭, B♭6 has one more note, G.
Questions
What notes are in the B♭6 chord?
B♭6 (B flat sixth) has 4 notes: B♭ (1), D (3), F (5), G (6).
How many inversions does B♭6 have?
B♭6 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (B♭–D–F–G); 1st inversion (D–F–G–B♭); 2nd inversion (F–G–B♭–D); 3rd inversion (G–B♭–D–F).
What is the difference between B♭6 and B♭?
Compared with B♭, B♭6 has one more note, G.
Can I play B♭6 with one hand?
Yes. In root position B♭6 spans 9 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.