B♭6 chord on piano
B♭6 is B♭, D, F and G. B♭ sits on the last black key of the group of three. Tap Play, then slow it down.
root position · B♭–D–F–G · right hand 1-2-3-5
- Notes
- B♭ · D · F · G
- Formula
- 1 · 3 · 5 · 6
How to play B♭6 on piano
From B♭, go 4 half steps up to D, 3 half steps up to F then 2 half steps up to G. Those 4 keys are B♭6.
- Right hand: 1 on B♭, 2 on D, 3 on F and 5 on G.
- Left hand: 5 on B♭, 3 on D, 2 on F and 1 on G.
- On the keyboard it's black, white, white and white keys.
B♭6 inversions
- root position: B♭–D–F–G. Fingers 1-2-3-5.
- 1st inversion: D–F–G–B♭ (D in the bass). RH 1-2-3-5.
- 2nd inversion: F–G–B♭–D, F lowest. Right hand 1-2-3-5.
- 3rd inversion: G–B♭–D–F (G in the bass). Fingers 1-2-3-5.
Nobody plays every chord in root position. The inversions let B♭6 sit wherever the previous chord left your hand.
Changing from B♭6 to the chords around it
These are the changes you'll meet most often with B♭6, using the first shape of each chord.
- E♭ (IV in B♭ major): B♭6 to E♭: play E♭ in 2nd inversion (B♭–E♭–G) and B♭ and G stay under the same fingers, while D moves up to E♭. E♭ on piano
- F (V in B♭ major): B♭6 to F: play F in 1st inversion (A–C–F) and F stays under the same finger, while B♭ moves down to A and B♭ up to C. F on piano
- Gm (vi in B♭ major): B♭6 to Gm: play Gm in 1st inversion (B♭–D–G) and B♭, D and G stay under the same fingers. Gm on piano
B♭6 is B♭ major with a major sixth added. B♭6 is a vintage ending chord; hold it at the end of a swing or ballad tune instead of plain B♭. On piano you hear it best with the keys pressed together, then rolled.
A short B♭6 drill
Roll the chord up and back down, B♭, D, F, G, F, D, B♭, before playing it as a block. Then climb the inversions: B♭–D–F–G, then D–F–G–B♭, then F–G–B♭–D, then G–B♭–D–F.
The keys of B♭6
B♭6 is a major sixth chord, 1–3–5–6 from B♭. Root position, from the bottom: how B♭6 is built.
| Note | Key | Fingers | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| B♭ | black key | RH 1 · LH 5 | root |
| D | white key | RH 2 · LH 3 | major third |
| F | white key | RH 3 · LH 2 | perfect fifth |
| G | white key | RH 5 · LH 1 | major sixth |
You may also see it as A♯6; nothing changes on the piano.
Keys and progressions with B♭6
B♭6 on guitar and ukulele
Switching instruments? Try B♭6 on ukulele or B♭6 on guitar, or compare them on the B♭6 chord page.
Close to B♭6
Other major sixth chords
B♭6 on piano: questions
What notes are in B♭6 on piano?
B♭, D, F and G: B♭ (black key), D (white key), F (white key) and G (white key). Right hand 1-2-3-5, left hand 5-3-2-1.
How do you play B♭6 on piano?
Press B♭, D, F and G together (1 black, 3 white). Right hand: 1 on B♭, 2 on D, 3 on F and 5 on G.
What are the inversions of B♭6?
1st inversion (D–F–G–B♭), 2nd inversion (F–G–B♭–D) and 3rd inversion (G–B♭–D–F), after root position (B♭–D–F–G). Same notes, a different one at the bottom.
What does B♭6 look like on the keyboard?
black, white, white and white keys.
Shapes and sound are generated from the notes B♭, D, F and G and tested automatically. Updated September 2026.