Learn › B Flat Major Chord Inversions (Bb, Bb/D, Bb/F)
New Released in April 2026
B Flat Major Chord Inversions (Bb, Bb/D, Bb/F)
B flat major chord inversions: root position Bb (Bb D F), 1st inversion Bb/D (D F Bb) and 2nd inversion Bb/F (F Bb D). Same three notes, a different note in the bass. Below: each position on the keyboard, how to tell them apart, the fingering for each one and a progression that uses them.
No account, no download. The demo has limited content. Advanced features are in ChordRunner Premium.
- MIDI keyboard
- Digital or acoustic piano
- Guitar
- Computer, phone or tablet
Spotting each inversion of Bb
Look for the fourth: it sits on top in the 1st inversion and at the bottom in the 2nd.
| Position | Bass | Name | Figured bass | Shape (bottom to top) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Root position | Bb | Bb | 5/3 | major 3rd + minor 3rd |
| 1st inversion | D | Bb/D | 6 (6/3) | minor 3rd + perfect 4th |
| 2nd inversion | F | Bb/F | 6/4 | perfect 4th + major 3rd |
Bb inversions on the keyboard
Root position starts on Bb, the 1st inversion on D, the 2nd on F.
Root position: Bb D F
1st inversion: D F Bb
2nd inversion: F Bb D
- Root position: starts on Bb, a black key; black keys: Bb
- 1st inversion: starts on D, a white key; black keys: Bb
- 2nd inversion: starts on F, a white key; black keys: Bb
Why Bb inversions matter: Bb → Eb/Bb → F/A → Bb
Played in root position, Bb, Eb and F make the hand jump. With inversions every chord sits in the same place: Bb → Eb/Bb → F/A → Bb. Most notes stay, the others move a step.
- From Bb to Eb/Bb: Bb stays, D → Eb, F → G.
- From Eb/Bb to F/A: Bb → A, Eb → C, G → F.
- From F/A to Bb: A → Bb, C → D, F stays.
Both hands, all three positions
| Position | Right hand | Left hand |
|---|---|---|
| Root position (Bb D F) | 1-3-5 | 5-3-1 |
| 1st inversion (D F Bb) | 1-2-5 | 5-3-1 |
| 2nd inversion (F Bb D) | 1-3-5 | 5-2-1 |
Keep the thumb on the lowest note in the right hand and the little finger on the lowest note in the left.
Make the inversions automatic
In ChordRunner any inversion of Bb counts: play root position, Bb/D or Bb/F and the runner jumps. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.
Play the demoThe Bb chord · All piano chords · Chord inversions explained
Common questions
What is the first inversion of B flat major?
The 1st inversion of Bb is D F Bb, written Bb/D: the third, D, is in the bass and Bb moves to the top. In figured bass it is a 6 chord.
What is the second inversion of B flat major?
The 2nd inversion is F Bb D, written Bb/F: the fifth, F, is in the bass. Figured bass calls it a 6/4 chord.
Which fingers play Bb/D and Bb/F?
Bb/D: right hand 1-2-5 (the fourth F-Bb sits on top), left hand 5-3-1. Bb/F: right hand 1-3-5, left hand 5-2-1 because the fourth is now at the bottom.
When are Bb inversions used?
Whenever Bb follows or precedes a nearby chord. In Bb → Eb/Bb → F/A → Bb the bass walks by small steps and the right hand hardly moves, which is how accompaniments sound smooth.
Can I practise Bb/D and Bb/F with a MIDI keyboard?
Yes. ChordRunner detects a USB MIDI keyboard automatically and also listens through the microphone to an acoustic piano. Every inversion of Bb is accepted, so you can drill them in any order.
Your instrument is the controller.
ChordRunner is a browser game that teaches piano and guitar chords: a chord appears on screen, you play it on a real instrument, and your runner jumps. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.
Try the demoKeep learning
B Flat Major Chord on Piano (Bb)
How to play B flat major (Bb) on the piano: the notes Bb D F on a keyboard, both hands, three inversions and t…
B Flat Minor Chord Inversions (Bbm, Bbm/Db, Bbm/F)
B flat minor chord inversions: root position, first inversion Bbm/Db and second inversion Bbm/F, with keyboard…
Chord Inversions Explained
Chord inversions explained simply: root position, first and second inversion, why they matter, and how to dril…
Piano Chord Chart: Every Chord in All 12 Keys
Piano chord chart with the notes of 288 chords: major, minor, 7ths, 9ths, sus and more in all 12 keys. Click a…
Chord Training That Feels Like a Game
Interactive chord training in your browser. Play major, minor, 7th and extended chords on a MIDI keyboard or a…
Master All 12 Major Chords on Piano
Every major chord on piano with notes and fingering, plus an interactive game that drills all 12 until they ar…