Chords in the Key of B♭ (2 flats)
B♭ is the horn key. Two flats, and the reason jazz guitarists learn barre chords properly. Jump blues, swing, and school band charts all default to B♭.
The seven chords
| Degree | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|
| I | B♭ | major |
| ii | Cm | minor |
| iii | Dm | minor |
| IV | E♭ | major |
| V | F | major |
| vi | Gm | minor |
| vii° | A dim | diminished |
B♭, E♭, and F are the majors, Cm, Dm, and Gm the minors, and A diminished gets skipped by most guitar arrangements. Plenty of songs in B♭ never leave B♭, E♭, F, and Gm.
Common progressions
B♭, E♭, F. The I, IV, V, and the whole three-chord songbook with it.
B♭, F, Gm, E♭. The four-chord pop axis. Several decades of hits use exactly this.
Scales to solo with
B♭ major pentatonic is the lead scale for the major-key sound. G minor pentatonic is the same five notes from the relative minor side.
Keep exploring
Relative minor
Parallel minor
Neighbor keys, one accidental away
Key of B♭ FAQ
What chords are in the key of B♭?
B♭, Cm, Dm, E♭, F, Gm, and A diminished. The I, IV, and V are B♭, E♭, and F, and the relative minor is Gm.
What is the relative minor of B♭ major?
G minor. Same key signature, same seven chords, with Gm treated as home.
How many sharps or flats does the key of B♭ have?
2 flats, B♭, E♭, and A♭.