Bbm7 Chord
Bbm7 combines a minor triad with A flat, its flat seventh. In a ii-V-I it often starts the journey rather than ending it.
- Notes: B flat-D flat-F-A flat
- Symbol: Bbm7
- ii7 in Ab major
- Minor third and flat seventh
Bbm7
How to play a Bbm7 chord
Notes: Bb - Db - F - AbBbm7
Root position
Bb - Db - F - Ab1st inversion
Db - F - Ab - Bb2nd inversion
F - Ab - Bb - Db3rd inversion
Ab - Bb - Db - F
Where does Bbm7 belong?
In Ab major, Bbm7 starts as ii7 before the dominant moves toward the tonic.
Play the role cards to hear how its surrounding chords change the job it does; Diatonic Chords explains the basic numbered roles.
- The ii in ii-V-Iii7
The first step of the most common move in jazz, heading to Ab.
Bbm7ii7Eb7Abmaj7 - The relative minorvi7
Same notes as Db major with a darker center.
Dbmaj7Bbm7vi7Ebm7Ab7 - Dorian vampi7
Two chords back and forth: the major IV gives Bb Dorian its brighter minor sound.
Bbm7i7Eb7 - A soft stand-iniii7
It shares three notes with Gbmaj7, so it moves without leaving home.
Gbmaj7Bbm7iii7Cbmaj7
Progressions to try
- Bbm7Eb7Abmaj7
Bbm7 begins a ii-V-I in Ab major; listen for the move through the dominant to the maj7 arrival.
- Dbmaj7Bbm7Ebm7Ab7
Here Bbm7 serves as vi7, keeping the phrase moving toward the following minor-seven chord.
- Bbm7Eb7
The two-chord Dorian vamp gives Bbm7 room to sound like a center without a final cadence.
- Gbmaj7Bbm7Cbmaj7
In Gb major, Bbm7 acts as iii7 between the home and IVmaj7 chords.
Which shape should you use?
On guitar, start with x13121, a barre at the 1st fret. Press the barred notes evenly and mute any strings marked x. The 686666 shape gives you another position when the neighboring chords sit elsewhere on the neck.
On ukulele, start with 1111, played at the 1st fret. The 6868 grip moves the chord to another register.
On piano, play B flat-D flat-F-A flat. Move B flat up an octave to reach the first inversion, D flat-F-A flat-B flat; the notes remain the same while the lowest voice changes.
What are the inversions?
B flat is the root, D flat the minor third, F the fifth and A flat the flat seventh.
- Root position: B flat-D flat-F-A flat, with B flat lowest.
- First inversion: D flat-F-A flat-B flat, written Bbm7/Db if D flat is lowest in the whole arrangement.
- Second inversion: F-A flat-B flat-D flat, written Bbm7/F if F is lowest in the whole arrangement.
- Third inversion: A flat-B flat-D flat-F, written Bbm7/Ab if A flat is lowest in the whole arrangement.
A slash chord names the note in the bass, not merely the lowest note under one hand. Chord Inversions shows how to read that distinction.
How does Bbm7 differ from Bb7?
Keep B flat, F and A flat, then raise the third from D flat to D. That turns Bbm7 into Bb7; listen to the one moving voice. Try that one-note change on piano, then use the comparer to hear it in the full chord. See Bb7 for the other chord's full spelling and roles.
Bbm7
Bb - Db - F - AbBb7
Bb - D - F - Ab