Bbmaj7 guitar chord: see the fingering, compare positions, and hear it before you play.
P - i - m - a - m - i · Smooth Bossa (2/4 · 6 notes · Level 2)
From the bass on the 5th to the 1st string there are 4 different notes. Six plucks give time to hear them. All 6 arpeggios
Subtle syncopation and oscillating timbre.
Bbmaj7 is built from Bb, D, F and A. Bb is the root, D the major third, F the fifth and A the major seventh. Said aloud, its notes are B flat, D, F and A.
From the low string to the high one you hear Bb, F, A, D and F. The note heard most is F, twice. It is not the root but the fifth. The lowest note is Bb on string 5 and the highest is F on string 1.
You play Bbmaj7 with a barre at fret 1. Avoid string 6. Everything fits between frets 1 and 3. The second shape on this page starts at fret 6.
Bb is one change away. String 3 moves from fret 2 to fret 3, bringing in Bb, the root of Bb. Bbmaj7 holds the whole Dm chord inside it, D, F and A. Going to Dm, three positions stay the same.
You will find Bbmaj7 in four different keys. In Bb major it is the I, in F major the IV and in D minor the VI. The rest appear in the key list.
Bb 1D 3F 5A 7
Root Bass (Fundamental String)5th String (A) • Fret 1 (Bb)
String Control (Muted & Active)5 / 6 • 1 X Muted
Placement tip: Barre fret 1. Press: 4th String (D) at fret 3, 3rd String (G) at fret 2, 2nd String (B) at fret 3. Don't play: 6th String (Low E).
Placement tip: Barre fret 6. Press: 5th String (A) at fret 8, 4th String (D) at fret 7, 3rd String (G) at fret 7.
Placement tip: Press: 6th String (Low E) at fret 6 with your Index finger, 4th String (D) at fret 7 with your Middle finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 7 with your Ring finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 6 with your Index finger. Don't play: 5th String (A), 1st String (High E).
| Item | In this chord |
|---|---|
| Frets | 1 to 3 |
| Barre | fret 1, from the 5th to the 1st string |
| Fretting fingers | 4 |
| Open | none |
| Muted | 6th |
At fret 1, only the barre sounds the 5th and 1st strings.
Listen: Bbmaj7 → Bb · Dm · F
Bbmaj7 sits in the scale of 4 keys.
The questions that come up most when playing this chord
To play the Bbmaj7 chord on guitar, only 5 strings are played, from string 5 to string 1. Muted strings must be gently dampened with the fleshy side of a fretting finger to prevent dissonance.
The primary bass note of the Bbmaj7 chord is its root note: Bb. In standard guitar tuning (EADGBe), this bass note is located on string 5 at fret 1.
When strumming or fingerpicking, strike this string first.
The Bbmaj7 chord is constructed using the 1 - 3 - 5 - 7 formula (Major Seventh). Its constituent pitches are Bb, D, F, A.
To prevent fret buzz on the Bbmaj7 barre chord, roll your index finger slightly outward (about 15 degrees) to press with its harder bony edge. Position your finger directly behind the fret wire and apply gentle arm pull from your back rather than squeezing with thumb force.
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