B♭6
Character: sweet
- B♭Rtriad
- D3triad
- F5triad
- G6add
14 ways to play B♭6
Every voicing sits inside one of the five CAGED shapes, low to high on the neck, with its octave doublings in grey.
- Triad note
- Substitute
- Added
- Anchored root
- Bass
- Doubling
Frets 1 1 0 0 x xNotes F B♭ D GIntervals 5 1 3 6Base triadB♭ major, 2nd inversion
The 6th gets a string of its own.
Frets x x 12 12 11 xNotes D G B♭Intervals 3 6 1Base triadB♭ major, 1st inversion
The 6th takes the 5th’s string.
Frets x 1 3 3 3 3Notes F B♭ D GIntervals 5 1 3 6Base triadB♭ major, 2nd inversion
The 6th gets a string of its own.
Frets x x x 3 3 3Notes B♭ D GIntervals 1 3 6Base triadB♭ major, root position
The 6th takes the 5th’s string.
Frets x 1 3 0 3 1Notes B♭ F G DIntervals 1 5 6 3Base triadB♭ major, 2nd inversion
The root drops to the string below the triad. The 6th takes the root’s string.
Frets 6 5 5 3 3 6Notes D G B♭Intervals 3 6 1Base triadB♭ major, 1st inversion
The 6th takes the 5th’s string.
Frets 6 5 5 7 6 6Notes B♭ D GIntervals 1 3 6Base triadB♭ major, root position
The 6th takes the 5th’s string.
Frets 6 8 8 7 8 6Notes D G B♭Intervals 3 6 1Base triadB♭ major, 1st inversion
The 6th takes the 5th’s string.
Frets 6 x 8 7 8 xNotes B♭ D GIntervals 1 3 6Base triadB♭ major, root position
The 6th takes the 5th’s string.
Frets 6 8 8 7 8 xNotes F B♭ D GIntervals 5 1 3 6Base triadB♭ major, 2nd inversion
The 6th gets a string of its own.
Frets 10 8 8 12 11 10Notes D F B♭ GIntervals 3 5 1 6Base triadB♭ major, 1st inversion
The 6th gets a string of its own.
Frets 6 8 5 7 x xNotes B♭ F G DIntervals 1 5 6 3Base triadB♭ major, 2nd inversion
The root drops to the string below the triad. The 6th takes the root’s string.
Frets x x x 12 11 10Notes G B♭ DIntervals 6 1 3Base triadB♭ major, 2nd inversion
The 6th takes the 5th’s string.
Frets x x 8 10 8 10Notes B♭ F G DIntervals 1 5 6 3Base triadB♭ major, 2nd inversion
The root drops to the string below the triad. The 6th takes the root’s string.
The construction rules B♭6 follows
Start from a triad
Root, 3rd and 5th, stacked in thirds. The 3rd makes it major or minor; the 5th makes it diminished or augmented when it moves.
No 7th, no stack
6, add9, add11 and 6/9 are a triad with a colour note, not a stack. Without a 7th the chord sounds open rather than jazzy.
On guitar, something has to give
Each extension takes the string of a triad note that matters less, usually the 5th, or gets a string of its own. The root and 3rd stay: they say what the chord is.
The root can move down
When an extension needs the root’s string, the root can drop to the string below the triad: an anchored voicing keeps the bass and frees a string on top.
All the rules, with examples, in the guide to the chord library.
Major 6th in every key
More chords on B♭
B♭6 chord questions
What notes are in B♭6?
B♭6 is spelled B♭ D F G: B♭ is the root, D is the 3rd, F is the 5th, G is the 6th.
What is the formula of B♭6?
1 3 5 6. It is a B♭ major triad with the 6th stacked on top.
How many ways can you play B♭6 on guitar?
This page shows 14 voicings of B♭6, filed under the five CAGED shapes and named by inversion, from the open position up to the 16th fret.