Sixths & added

B♭ major 6th chord

Sweet and vintage — common in swing, country and classic pop.

Spell as A♯6

How to play B♭6

x10033 · Open position

Right hand: B♭ (1), D (2), F (3), G (5)

0211 · Open position

On guitar, B♭6 has an open-position shape, x10033, using three fingers alongside the open strings. Don’t strum the low E string.

On piano, B♭6 has one black key (B♭) and three white keys.

On ukulele the usual B♭6 shape is 0211, with a small 2-string barre at the 1st fret.

B♭6 contains exactly the same notes as Gm7. Which name fits depends on which note is in the bass and what key you’re in.

Move a single note and B♭6 becomes a different chord: drop the G for B♭, raise G to A♭ for B♭7, swap G for A for B♭maj7 and lower D to D♭ for B♭m6.