B♭ sixth (B♭6) chord on banjo

The B♭ sixth chord (B♭6) is a major sixth chord (a major triad plus a major sixth), made of four notes: B♭ – D – F – G. The same chord with a different spelling: A♯ sixth (A♯6).

Dots show:

Basic shapeeasy

Position 7medium

Position 5medium

Position 11medium

Tap a string on a diagram to hear just that string. The sound is generated in your browser with a physical string model.

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What the B♭6 chord sounds like

A sixth chord is a major triad with an added major sixth. It has a cheerful, vintage swing colour and often stands in for the tonic in jazz and swing. It has the same notes as the relative minor seventh (C6 = Am7).

Notes of the B♭6 chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	B♭	root
3	D	major third (4 semitones)
5	F	perfect fifth (7 semitones) – often omitted on fretted instruments
6	G	major sixth (9 semitones)

How to play it – with fingering

Basic shape, barre at fret 3

String 1 (D): fret 5, ring finger (G4)
String 2 (B): fret 3, index finger (D4)
String 3 (G): fret 3, index finger (B♭3)
String 4 (D): open (D3)

For the barre, lay your index finger flat across all the marked strings at fret 3; your other fingers press the higher frets.

Position 7

String 1 (D): fret 8, little finger (B♭4)
String 2 (B): fret 8, ring finger (G4)
String 3 (G): fret 7, index finger (D4)
String 4 (D): fret 8, middle finger (B♭3)

Position 5

String 1 (D): fret 5, index finger (G4)
String 2 (B): fret 6, middle finger (F4)
String 3 (G): fret 7, ring finger (D4)
String 4 (D): fret 8, little finger (B♭3)

Five-string banjo in open G tuning (g D G B D). The diagram shows the four long strings; the short 5th string (g) rings open – avoid it when G is not in the chord. In the diagram, × means the string is not played, and a circle means an open string.

Which keys is it in?

The B♭6 chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

B♭ major: I6 (tonic)
E♭ major: V6 (dominant)
F major: IV6 (subdominant)
C minor: VII6
G minor: III6
D minor: VI6

Similar chords and substitutes

If B♭6 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

Gm – relative minor: two shared notes, a common stand-in for the tonic
Dm – mediant minor (iii): two shared notes
B♭maj7 – a softer, jazzier tonic colour
B♭sus4 – suspended version that resolves back to this chord

Same notes

Gm7 – the same notes with a different root

Simpler versions

B♭ – all 3 of its notes are in this chord

Richer versions

B♭13 – the same chord plus 2 colour notes

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the B♭6 chord?

B♭, D, F, G. The root is B♭; the intervals of the other notes from the root: major third, perfect fifth, major sixth.

What is the easiest way to play B♭6 on banjo?

The easiest shape above is “Basic shape”, rated easy. We show 4 shapes, from open and easy versions to movable barre shapes higher up the neck.

How do I read the chord diagram?

Strings run from the lowest (left) to the highest (right) – tick “Left-handed” to mirror it. Rows are frets; a number at the side shows the starting fret. Dots are fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little), a long bar is a barre, × means don't play that string and ○ means play it open.

Why is a note missing from some B♭6 shapes?

On a fretted instrument you can't always play every note of a 4-note chord. The fifth (F) may be dropped – the chord keeps its character without it.

Why do some songbooks write H instead of B?

In German and Central European notation, H is the note B, and B is the note B♭. So a “B” chord in a German or Hungarian songbook is B♭ in English notation, and an “H” chord is B. Always check which notation your chord chart uses.