Bbm13 Ukulele Chord
Bbm13 on ukulele is 1-1-3-1: barre the 1st fret across the g, C and A strings with your index finger and put your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the E string. It is a barre shape, which feels awkward at first but is well worth learning. You will also see it written as A#m13, A sharp minor thirteenth.
- Notes: Bb, Db, F, Ab, C, Eb and G
- Frets: 1 1 3 1
- Tuning: g C E A
Bbm13 ukulele chord details
- Type
- Minor 13th
- Also known as
- A#m13, or Bb minor thirteenth
- Formula
- 1 b3 5 b7 9 11 13
- Intervals
- Bb (root), Db (minor 3rd), F (perfect 5th), Ab (minor 7th), C (major 9th), Eb (perfect 11th), G (major 13th)
- Notes
- Bb, Db, F, Ab, C, Eb and G
- Frets
- 1 1 3 1
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Tuning
- Standard (g C E A)
How to play the Bbm13 chord
Here is the Bbm13 chord step by step:
- Lay your index finger flat across the g, C and A strings at the 1st fret, a small barre.
- Put your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the E string.
- 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 Bbm13?
Not really. 1-1-3-1 is already the simplest playable shape for Bbm13 on a ukulele; every alternative either needs more fingers or sits higher up the neck. If it still feels awkward, the tips above are the fix.
What notes are in the Bbm13 chord?
The Bbm13 chord is built from seven notes: Bb, Db, F, Ab, C, Eb and G (the root, minor 3rd, perfect 5th, minor 7th, major 9th, perfect 11th and major 13th). Minor sevenths are the smooth, mellow ones. They feel relaxed and a little jazzy, softer than a plain minor. New to these? Have a read about seventh chords.
Want to go further?
Once Bbm13 feels comfortable, its close relatives are worth exploring: try Bb7, Bbmaj7, Bbm and Bb. It works as a richer color alongside the basic chords you already know. Then put it into a strumming pattern. When you are ready, try some easy ukulele songs.