I-IV-V (the Three Chord Trick)
I · IV · V
The most fundamental progression in Western music.
Key of Bb
The Key of B♭ Major
The chords in the key of B♭ major are B♭, Cm, Dm, E♭, F, Gm and Adim.
The concert-band key.
Below: all seven diatonic chords with guitar shapes and audio, the scale, the key signature (B♭ · E♭), 8 progressions already transposed into this key, and the keys next door.
Diatonic chords
The 7 chords in the key of B♭ major
Each degree of the B♭ major scale carries one chord. Roman numerals show the degree; the function column tells you what the chord does. Every name links to its full chord page — press play to hear it on guitar.
| Degree | Function | Chord | Guitar shape | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | TonicTonicHome — rests | B♭B♭ · D · F | ||
| ii | SubdominantSupertonicDeparts — sets up the V | CmC · E♭ · G | ||
| iii | TonicMediantHome — rests | DmD · F · A | ||
| IV | SubdominantSubdominantDeparts — sets up the V | E♭E♭ · G · B♭ | ||
| V | DominantDominantPulls back to I | FF · A · C | ||
| vi | TonicSubmediantHome — rests | GmG · B♭ · D | ||
| vii° | DominantLeading tonePulls back to I | AdimA · C · E♭ |
Want the same chords on another instrument? Every chord page carries piano, ukulele, bass, mandolin and banjo shapes — start with piano.
Character
Why songs live in B♭ major
Trumpet, clarinet and tenor sax are Bb instruments, so concert Bb reads as C on their parts — which is why marches, big-band charts and a large share of the jazz repertoire are written here. On guitar it means barres or a capo at the third fret with G shapes. On piano it lies well: the hand finds Bb and Eb naturally.
Scale
The B♭ major scale
Seven notes, in order from the tonic. Tap any note to hear it, or play the whole scale ascending.
Fretboard patterns and full scale reference: Bb Major (Ionian).
Key signature
The B♭ major key signature
B♭ · E♭
B♭ major is written with 2 flats. Every B and E in the music is played flat unless an accidental says otherwise. Its relative minor, G minor, shares this signature exactly.
Progressions
Chord progressions in B♭ major
The most-used progressions, already transposed into B♭ major. Every chord links to its own page; the progression name opens the full breakdown.
I-V-vi-IV (the Pop Punk Progression)
I · V · vi · IV
The 4-chord pop progression that powers thousands of hits.
vi-IV-I-V (Sensitive Female)
vi · IV · I · V
The minor-flavored sibling of I-V-vi-IV.
I-vi-IV-V (the Doo-Wop)
I · vi · IV · V
The 1950s ballad backbone.
I-IV-I-V
I · IV · I · V
Classic 4-bar phrase with a leading-tone pull on bar 4.
I-♭VII-IV (Mixolydian Rock)
I · ♭VII · IV
Mixolydian flavor; classic rock pull.
12-Bar Blues
I · I · I · I · IV · IV · I · I · V · IV · I · V
The defining blues form. 4 bars I, 2 bars IV, 2 bars I, 1 bar V, 1 bar IV, 1 bar I, 1 bar V (turnaround).
8-Bar Blues
I · V · IV · IV · I · V · I · V
Compressed blues form.
FAQ
Questions about the key of B♭ major
- What chords are in the key of Bb major?
- The key of Bb major contains seven diatonic chords: Bb (I), Cm (ii), Dm (iii), Eb (IV), F (V), Gm (vi), Adim (vii°). Most songs in Bb major lean on Bb, Eb and F — the tonic, subdominant and dominant.
- What is the relative minor of Bb major?
- G minor is the relative minor of Bb major. Both keys share the same key signature (2 flats) and exactly the same seven notes — G minor simply treats G as home instead of Bb, which is why you can borrow chords freely between them.
- What are the easiest chords in Bb major to play on guitar?
- Dm is the one open shape in Bb major — no barre required. The rest of the diatonic chords need a barre or a movable grip, so many players capo instead and use familiar open shapes from an easier key.
Learn the theory
Read up on B♭ major
This page is the reference. These are the guides that explain how a key works in the first place — read one and the table above stops needing to be looked up.