Piano chord
B♭m7B flat minor seventh
- B♭1
- D♭♭3
- F5
- A♭♭7
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 10semitones
- Fingers
- 1-2-4-5
How to play B♭m7 on piano
- Find B♭: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Right hand: 1 on B♭, 2 on D♭, 4 on F, 5 on A♭.
- Or with the left hand: 5 on B♭, 4 on D♭, 2 on F, 1 on A♭.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · B♭ – D♭ – F – A♭
1st inversion · D♭ – F – A♭ – B♭
2nd inversion · F – A♭ – B♭ – D♭
3rd inversion · A♭ – B♭ – D♭ – F
Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.
B♭m7 inversions
Here are all 4 positions of B♭m7. The notes stay the same, only their order changes: root position has B♭ at the bottom, and every inversion starts on the next chord tone.
- Root positionbass: B♭Right hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
- 1st inversionbass: D♭Right hand 1-3-4-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 2nd inversionbass: FRight hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 3rd inversionbass: A♭Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-3-1
Chords that go with B♭m7
The other chords of B flat minor, the key where B♭m7 is home (i7). Songs in this key move between them.
B♭m7 with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays B♭ an octave lower, the right hand plays B♭–D♭–F–A♭.
B♭m7 on other instruments
About the B♭m7 chord
The 4 notes of B flat minor seventh are B♭ (1), D♭ (♭3), F (5), A♭ (♭7). A minor seventh: a minor triad with the flat seventh. Softer than a plain minor chord, it is the ii chord of jazz and a favourite in R&B.
Put your thumb on B♭ and count up: B♭ – D♭ – F – A♭. The whole chord spans 10 semitones from bottom to top. That fits inside an octave, so one hand covers B♭m7 without stretching.
The inversions of B♭m7 keep the same notes in a new order. In the 1st inversion the bass is D♭ (D♭–F–A♭–B♭). In the 2nd inversion the bass is F (F–A♭–B♭–D♭). In the 3rd inversion the bass is A♭ (A♭–B♭–D♭–F).
Add A♭ to B♭m and you have B♭m7.
B♭m7 belongs to A flat major (ii7), D flat major (vi7), F sharp major (iii7), F minor (iv7), B flat minor (i7).
Questions
What notes are in the B♭m7 chord?
B♭m7 (B flat minor seventh) has 4 notes: B♭ (1), D♭ (♭3), F (5), A♭ (♭7).
How many inversions does B♭m7 have?
B♭m7 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (B♭–D♭–F–A♭); 1st inversion (D♭–F–A♭–B♭); 2nd inversion (F–A♭–B♭–D♭); 3rd inversion (A♭–B♭–D♭–F).
What is the difference between B♭m7 and B♭m?
Add A♭ to B♭m and you have B♭m7.
Can I play B♭m7 with one hand?
Yes. In root position B♭m7 spans 10 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.