Chords › B♭5
B Flat Power Chord Power Chord on Guitar
- B♭5
- B♭ · F
- From fret 1
- Also written A♯5
Movable
B♭5 is a power chord: just the root and the fifth, with no third, so it is neither major nor minor and stays clear under distortion. B♭5 has no open shape, so it is usually played as a 3-string shape near the nut.
How to play B♭5, finger by finger
- Put your index finger on string 5 at the 1st fret.
- Put your ring finger on string 4 at the 3rd fret.
- Put your pinky finger on string 3 at the 3rd fret.
- Strum strings 5 to 3 only.
More ways to play B♭5
Notes in B♭5
| Note | Interval | Role |
|---|---|---|
| B♭ | 1 | root |
| F | 5 | fifth |
Formula: 1 – 5
Questions about B♭5
What notes are in B♭5?
B♭ and F. Those are the 1, 5 of the chord, counted from B♭.
Which strings do I strum for B♭5?
Start on string 5 and strum down to string 1, and leave the strings marked with an X silent.
Is B♭5 the same as A♯5?
Yes, on guitar they are played the same way and sound the same. B flat and A sharp are two names for one note: songs in sharp keys write A♯, songs in flat keys write B♭.
Is B♭5 major or minor?
Neither. A power chord has only the root and the fifth (B♭ and F), so it fits songs in B♭ major and B♭ minor alike. It is the standard chord for rock and metal rhythm guitar.
Related chords
Often played with B♭5
Other power chords