Key

The key of B♭ minor · 5 flats: B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭

Minor keys sound darker and more serious. Songs in minor keys usually borrow a major V chord from the harmonic minor scale for a stronger pull home.

Relative major: D♭ major — the same notes and key signature. Parallel major: B♭ major. Scale: B♭ minor scale.

Notes in the key

B♭CD♭E♭FG♭A♭

Chords in B♭ minor

One chord on each note of the scale. Roman numerals show each chord’s position — uppercase for major, lowercase for minor.

Left-handed

i B♭m

B♭ D♭ F

ii° Cdim

C E♭ G♭

III D♭

D♭ F A♭

iv E♭m

E♭ G♭ B♭

v Fm

F A♭ C

VI G♭

G♭ B♭ D♭

VII A♭

A♭ C E♭

Borrowed from harmonic minor

Raising the 7th note turns v into a major V (and V7) — the chord that makes minor-key songs resolve so strongly.

V F

F A C

V7 F7

F A C E♭

vii°7 Adim7

A C E♭ G♭

Common progressions in B♭ minor

The epic minor progression i–VI–III–VII B♭m – G♭ – D♭ – A♭ The minor cadence i–iv–V–i B♭m – E♭m – F – B♭m The Andalusian cadence i–VII–VI–V B♭m – A♭ – G♭ – F

Circle of fifths

Each step clockwise adds a sharp (or removes a flat). Neighbors on the circle share all but one note, so B♭ minor’s closest keys are right next to it — and its relative major sits on the outer ring. Click any key to open it.