Ways to play B♭m7
Lowest on the neck first. Tap a shape to put it on the fretboard above and hear it. The numbers are fingers (1 is your index), × means leave that string out, and ○ means let it ring open.
What's in B♭m7
A minor 7th is a minor triad with a flat 7th on top: B♭m7 is B♭, D♭, F, A♭. On guitar it is often easier than the plain minor chord, because the 7th can come from an open string or frees up a finger.
| Note | Formula | Interval from B♭ |
|---|---|---|
| B♭ | 1 | Root |
| D♭ | ♭3 | Minor 3rd |
| F | 5 | Perfect 5th |
| A♭ | ♭7 | Minor 7th |
Mellower than a straight minor chord. It is the ii in the ii–V–I that jazz is built on, and the default minor chord in funk and R&B.
Keys that use B♭m7
Every major and minor key whose scale contains all of B♭, D♭, F and A♭, and the chord's Roman numeral in each.
| Key | B♭m7 is the |
|---|---|
| B♭ minor | i7 |
| F minor | iv7 |
| E♭ minor | v7 |
| A♭ major | ii7 |
| D♭ major | vi7 |
| F♯ major | iii7 |
Progressions to try
ii7–V7–Imaj7 in A♭ major
A minor 7th's most common job: the ii chord that sets up the V.
Related chords
Other chords on B♭: