Bb Ukulele Chord
Bb on ukulele is 3-2-1-1: barre the 1st fret across the E and A strings with your index finger, put your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the C string and your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the g string. It is a barre shape, which feels awkward at first but is well worth learning. You will also see it written as A#, A sharp major.
- Notes: Bb, D and F
- Frets: 3 2 1 1
- Tuning: g C E A
Bb ukulele chord details
- Type
- Major triad
- Also known as
- A#, or Bb major
- Formula
- 1 3 5
- Intervals
- Bb (root), D (major 3rd), F (perfect 5th)
- Notes
- Bb, D and F
- Frets
- 3 2 1 1
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Tuning
- Standard (g C E A)
How to play the Bb chord
Here is the Bb chord step by step:
- Put your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the g string.
- Put your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the C string.
- Lay your index finger flat across the E and A strings at the 1st fret, a small barre.
- Strum all four strings.
Roll your index finger slightly onto its bony side so it presses every string evenly. Read how to play bar chords if it keeps buzzing. New to these grids? Have a look at how to read a ukulele chord diagram.
Is there an easier way to play Bb?
Yes: play it as x-2-1-1. Barre the 1st fret across the E and A strings with your index finger, put your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the C string and skip the g string. It uses two fingers instead of three. You give up the g string, but every note of the chord is still there, so it works in any song. Use it while the main shape is still settling, then go back to the full voicing for the bigger sound.
What notes are in the Bb chord?
The Bb chord is built from three notes: Bb, D and F (the root, major 3rd and perfect 5th). On the ukulele the Bb is doubled, so you get a nice full sound. Major chords are the bright, happy ones, which is why so many singalong songs are built on them. Curious which chords sit together in a song? See which chords share a key.
Ukulele songs that use the Bb chord
- The NeighbourhoodSweater Weather
- The FoundationsBuild Me Up Buttercup
- ColdplayThe Scientist
- Louis ArmstrongWhat A Wonderful World
- Alessia CaraHow Far I’ll Go
- Death Cab for CutieI Will Follow You Into The Dark
- Bruno MarsWhen I Was Your Man
- Ryan Gosling & Emma StoneCity Of Stars
- Christina PerriA Thousand Years
- AdeleMake You Feel My Love
The Bb chord belongs to E♭ Major (the V), B♭ Major (the I), F Major (the IV), C Minor (the VII), G Minor (the III) and D Minor (the VI). Each key page shows the rest of that family, the progressions that use it and songs to play.
Want to go further?
Once Bb feels comfortable, its close relatives are worth exploring: try Bb7, Bbmaj7, Bbm and Bbsus4. Bb pairs most often with F, Eb and Gm, so the few basic chords next to it go a long way. When that feels good, work on switching between chords faster. When you are ready, try some easy ukulele songs.