All chords › Bb › Suspended & Altered

Bb Suspended & Altered Chords

Chords that swap the third for a second or a fourth, and chords that bend the fifth or the ninth out of shape. Suspensions blur the major/minor question; altered chords sharpen the pull toward whatever comes next.

17 chord types · 152 playable voicings · frets 1–15 · 60 use an open string

60 of the 152 shapes below let at least one string ring open, which usually makes them easier to hold and fuller to hear than the barred equivalents. The rest are movable grips. In the keys you are most likely to meet them, these chords sit as the I of Bb, the IV of Eb, and the V of F.

Jump to: Bbsus2 · Bbsus4 · Bb7sus4 · Bbmaj7sus4 · Bb7sus2 · Bbmaj7sus2 · Bb6sus4 · Bb6sus2 · Bbm7b5 · Bbm7#5 · Bbdim7 · Bb7b9 · Bb7#9 · Bb7b5 · Bbaug7 · Bbaug7b9 · Bbm7b9

Bbsus2

BbCF
14 shapes · open & play
X
1
3
4
1
1
X
X
1
4
2
3
X
X
X
1
2
3
X
X
X
3
1
1
X
X
3
4
1
1
1
X
X
X
3
4
1
1
X
X
5
2
1
3
4
X
X
5
4
1
2
3
X
X
X
6
1
2
3
X
X
X
6
3
1
4
X
X
8
1
3
4
2
X
X
X
8
1
3
2
X
X
X
10
4
1
1
X
X
10
4
1
1
2

Bbsus2 fits 10 of the twenty-four major and minor keys — a chord this open leaves most of the scale untouched. These are the 5 where it carries the weight, as the I, IV or V: I of Bb major, i of Bb minor, V of Eb major, IV of F major, iv of F minor.

Fret and finger numbers for Bbsus2
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 1 3 3 1 1– 1 3 4 1 1
X 1 X 3 1 1– 1 – 4 2 3
X 1 X X 1 1– 1 – – 2 3
X X X 3 1 1– – – 3 1 1
6 3 3 3 X X4 1 1 1 – –
6 3 3 X X X4 1 1 – – –
6 X X 5 6 62 – – 1 3 4
X X 8 5 6 6– – 4 1 2 3
6 X X X 6 81 – – – 2 3
X X 8 X 6 8– – 3 – 1 4
X X 8 10 11 8– – 1 3 4 2
X X 8 10 X 8– – 1 3 – 2
X 13 10 10 X X– 4 1 1 – –
X 13 10 10 11 X– 4 1 1 2 –

Bbsus4

BbEbF
12 shapes · open & play
X
X
1
1
3
2
X
X
1
1
4
2
X
1
1
3
4
2
X
X
X
1
1
2
X
X
3
3
4
1
1
X
X
X
3
3
4
1
6
1
1
3
4
1
1
6
1
2
3
4
1
1
X
X
X
6
1
3
4
X
X
X
6
3
4
1
X
X
X
8
1
3
4
X
X
X
10
3
4
1

Bbsus4 fits 10 of the twenty-four major and minor keys — a chord this open leaves most of the scale untouched. These are the 5 where it carries the weight, as the I, IV or V: I of Bb major, i of Bb minor, V of Eb major, v of Eb minor, iv of F minor.

Fret and finger numbers for Bbsus4
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 1 1 3 X 1– 1 1 3 – 2
X 1 1 X 4 1– 1 1 – 4 2
X 1 1 3 4 1– 1 1 3 4 2
X 1 1 X X 1– 1 1 – – 2
6 6 3 3 X X3 4 1 1 – –
6 6 3 X X X3 4 1 – – –
6 6 8 8 6 61 1 3 4 1 1
6 8 8 8 6 61 2 3 4 1 1
6 8 X 8 X X1 3 – 4 – –
X X 8 8 6 X– – 3 4 1 –
X X 8 10 X 11– – 1 3 – 4
X 13 13 10 X X– 3 4 1 – –

Bb7sus4

BbEbFG#
7 shapes · open & play
X
1
1
1
4
2
X
X
1
2
4
3
X
X
1
3
2
4
X
1
3
1
4
1
6
1
1
1
4
2
3
6
1
3
1
4
1
1
X
X
13
1
1
1
2

Bb7sus4 turns up as the i, V, v, iv chord across 8 keys: i of Bb minor, V of Eb major, v of Eb minor, iv of F minor, vi of C# major, ii of G# major, iii of F# major, VII of C minor.

Fret and finger numbers for Bb7sus4
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 1 1 1 4 1– 1 1 1 4 2
X 1 X 1 4 1– 1 – 2 4 3
X 1 3 1 4 X– 1 3 2 4 –
X 1 3 1 4 1– 1 3 1 4 1
6 6 6 8 6 61 1 1 4 2 3
6 8 6 8 6 61 3 1 4 1 1
X 13 13 13 X 13– 1 1 1 – 2

Bbmaj7sus4

BbEbFA
11 shapes · open & play
X
1
1
3
4
2
X
X
1
3
4
2
X
1
3
2
4
1
O
X
3
4
1
1
2
O
3
4
1
1
2
3
X
X
5
3
4
2
1
6
1
1
2
3
1
1
6
1
3
2
4
1
1
X
X
10
3
4
1
1
X
10
3
4
1
1
2
X
X
13
1
1
3
2

Bbmaj7sus4 is the I and the III chord of Bb major and G minor.

Fret and finger numbers for Bbmaj7sus4
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 1 1 2 4 1– 1 1 3 4 2
X 1 X 2 4 1– 1 – 3 4 2
X 1 3 2 4 1– 1 3 2 4 1
6 0 3 3 4 X4 – 1 1 2 –
6 0 3 3 4 54 – 1 1 2 3
X X 8 8 6 5– – 3 4 2 1
6 6 7 8 6 61 1 2 3 1 1
6 8 7 8 6 61 3 2 4 1 1
X 13 13 10 10 X– 3 4 1 1 –
X 13 13 10 10 11– 3 4 1 1 2
X 13 13 14 X 13– 1 1 3 – 2

Bb7sus2

BbCFG#
5 shapes · open & play
X
1
3
1
1
1
X
X
1
4
2
3
X
1
3
1
1
4
X
X
6
1
2
3
4
X
X
8
1
4
3
2

Bb7sus2 turns up as the i, V, iv, vi chord across 6 keys: i of Bb minor, V of Eb major, iv of F minor, vi of C# major, ii of G# major, VII of C minor.

Fret and finger numbers for Bb7sus2
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 1 3 1 1 1– 1 3 1 1 1
X 1 3 1 1 X– 1 4 2 3 –
X 1 3 1 1 4– 1 3 1 1 4
6 X 6 X 6 81 – 2 – 3 4
X X 8 10 9 8– – 1 4 3 2

Bbmaj7sus2

BbCFA
9 shapes · open & play
X
1
3
2
1
1
X
X
1
4
2
3
O
5
2
4
1
3
1
O
X
5
3
1
4
2
O
X
5
2
1
3
4
X
X
5
4
1
3
2
O
X
X
6
1
2
3
X
X
8
1
3
4
2
X
X
10
4
1
1
1

Bbmaj7sus2 turns up as the I, IV, VI, III chord across 4 keys: I of Bb major, IV of F major, VI of D minor, III of G minor.

Fret and finger numbers for Bbmaj7sus2
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 1 3 2 1 1– 1 3 2 1 1
X 1 X 2 1 1– 1 – 4 2 3
6 0 8 5 6 52 – 4 1 3 1
6 0 X 5 6 53 – – 1 4 2
6 0 X 5 6 62 – – 1 3 4
X X 8 5 6 5– – 4 1 3 2
6 0 X X 6 81 – – – 2 3
X X 8 10 10 8– – 1 3 4 2
X 13 10 10 10 X– 4 1 1 1 –

Bb6sus4

BbEbFG
6 shapes · open & play
X
O
1
1
4
2
X
O
X
1
1
2
X
O
1
3
4
2
3
3
4
1
1
2
1
X
X
8
1
3
2
4
X
X
12
2
3
1
4

Bb6sus4 turns up as the I, V, iv, ii chord across 6 keys: I of Bb major, V of Eb major, iv of F minor, ii of G# major, III of G minor, VII of C minor.

Fret and finger numbers for Bb6sus4
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 1 1 0 4 1– 1 1 – 4 2
X 1 1 0 X 1– 1 1 – – 2
X 1 3 0 4 1– 1 3 – 4 2
6 6 3 3 4 33 4 1 1 2 1
X X 8 10 8 11– – 1 3 2 4
X 13 13 12 X 13– 2 3 1 – 4

Bb6sus2

BbCFG
5 shapes · open & play
X
O
1
4
2
3
X
O
1
3
2
4
X
X
3
4
1
1
2
X
X
O
6
3
1
4
X
X
8
1
4
2
3

Bb6sus2 turns up as the I, V, IV, iv chord across 8 keys: I of Bb major, V of Eb major, IV of F major, iv of F minor, VI of D minor, ii of G# major, III of G minor, VII of C minor.

Fret and finger numbers for Bb6sus2
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 1 3 0 1 1– 1 4 – 2 3
X 1 3 0 1 3– 1 3 – 2 4
6 3 3 X X 34 1 1 – – 2
X X 8 0 6 8– – 3 – 1 4
X X 8 10 8 8– – 1 4 2 3

Bbm7b5

BbC#EG#
12 shapes · open & play
X
X
O
1
2
3
X
O
1
3
2
4
X
X
1
2
3
4
X
1
2
1
3
4
X
X
5
2
3
4
1
6
1
2
1
1
4
1
6
1
2
3
1
4
1
6
1
2
1
1
3
4
X
X
8
1
2
3
4
X
O
11
3
1
4
2
X
X
O
11
3
1
4
X
11
3
1
4
1
2

Bbm7b5 is the ii° and the vii° chord of G# minor and B major.

Fret and finger numbers for Bbm7b5
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 1 X 1 2 0– 1 – 2 3 –
X 1 2 1 2 0– 1 3 2 4 –
X 1 2 X 2 4– 1 2 – 3 4
X 1 2 1 2 4– 1 2 1 3 4
6 X 6 6 5 X2 – 3 4 1 –
6 7 6 6 9 61 2 1 1 4 1
6 7 8 6 9 61 2 3 1 4 1
6 7 6 6 9 91 2 1 1 3 4
X X 8 9 9 9– – 1 2 3 4
X 13 11 13 11 0– 3 1 4 2 –
X 13 11 13 X 0– 3 1 4 – –
X 13 11 13 11 12– 3 1 4 1 2

Bbm7#5

BbC#F#G#
6 shapes · open & play
X
1
4
1
2
3
X
X
1
4
2
3
X
X
1
2
3
4
X
X
4
3
1
1
2
6
1
4
1
1
2
1
X
X
8
1
4
2
3

Bbm7#5 turns up as the i, v, vi, ii° chord across 6 keys: i of Bb minor, v of Eb minor, vi of C# major, ii° of G# minor, iii of F# major, vii° of B major.

Fret and finger numbers for Bbm7#5
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 1 4 1 2 2– 1 4 1 2 3
X 1 4 1 2 X– 1 4 2 3 –
X 1 X 1 2 2– 1 – 2 3 4
6 4 4 X X 43 1 1 – – 2
6 9 6 6 7 61 4 1 1 2 1
X X 8 11 9 9– – 1 4 2 3

Bbdim7

BbC#EG
15 shapes · open & play
X
X
O
O
1
2
X
O
O
1
2
3
X
O
X
O
4
3
1
X
O
O
4
3
1
2
X
X
5
3
1
4
2
X
X
O
6
1
2
3
O
6
1
2
3
1
4
X
X
O
6
3
1
4
6
1
2
3
1
4
1
X
X
8
1
3
2
4
X
O
X
O
11
3
1
X
O
O
11
3
1
2
X
O
11
4
1
3
2
X
O
11
4
1
2
3
X
X
12
2
3
1
4

Bbdim7 — Four notes stacked a minor third apart, so it belongs to no key in particular. That symmetry makes it a pivot: it can slide into almost any chord, which is why it turns up at the seams where a song changes direction.

Fret and finger numbers for Bbdim7
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 1 X 0 2 0– 1 – – 2 –
X 1 2 0 2 0– 1 2 – 3 –
6 4 X 0 X 03 1 – – – –
6 4 X 0 5 03 1 – – 2 –
6 X 5 6 5 X3 – 1 4 2 –
6 X X 6 8 01 – – 2 3 –
6 7 8 6 8 01 2 3 1 4 –
X X 8 6 8 0– – 3 1 4 –
6 7 8 6 8 61 2 3 1 4 1
X X 8 9 8 9– – 1 3 2 4
X 13 11 0 X 0– 3 1 – – –
X 13 11 0 11 0– 3 1 – 2 –
X 13 11 12 11 0– 4 1 3 2 –
X 13 11 0 11 12– 4 1 – 2 3
X 13 14 12 14 X– 2 3 1 4 –

Bb7b9

BbDFG#B
7 shapes · open & play
X
O
O
1
2
3
O
3
4
3
1
1
2
X
O
4
3
1
4
2
O
4
3
2
1
4
1
X
O
12
2
3
1
4
X
O
12
2
1
3
4
X
12
2
1
3
1
4

Bb7b9 — A dominant seventh with a flattened ninth on top. The ninth is outside the key, which is the point: it makes the resolution feel earned. Very common resolving into a minor chord.

Fret and finger numbers for Bb7b9
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 1 0 1 0 1– 1 – 2 – 3
6 5 3 3 0 44 3 1 1 – 2
6 X 0 4 6 43 – – 1 4 2
6 5 0 4 6 43 2 – 1 4 1
X 13 0 13 12 13– 2 – 3 1 4
X 13 12 13 0 13– 2 1 3 – 4
X 13 12 13 12 13– 2 1 3 1 4

Bb7#9

BbDFG#C#
6 shapes · open & play
X
O
1
2
4
3
3
4
2
1
1
1
3
O
4
3
1
4
4
2
5
2
1
3
3
3
3
O
X
6
1
3
2
4
6
1
3
1
2
1
4

Bb7#9 — The Hendrix chord. A dominant seventh carrying both a major third and a raised ninth — which is the minor third in disguise. Major and minor at once, and neither.

Fret and finger numbers for Bb7#9
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 1 0 1 2 1– 1 – 2 4 3
6 4 3 3 3 44 2 1 1 1 3
6 4 0 6 6 43 1 – 4 4 2
6 5 6 6 6 62 1 3 3 3 3
6 8 0 6 9 X1 3 – 2 4 –
6 8 6 7 6 91 3 1 2 1 4

Bb7b5

BbDEG#
18 shapes · open & play
X
O
X
O
1
2
X
O
O
1
2
3
X
O
1
3
2
4
X
1
2
1
3
4
X
O
O
6
1
3
4
X
O
X
O
6
1
4
O
6
1
2
1
3
4
O
O
6
1
2
3
4
O
O
6
1
2
3
4
X
O
6
1
3
2
4
6
1
2
1
3
4
1
X
X
O
7
2
1
3
X
X
8
1
2
3
4
X
O
O
11
3
4
1
X
O
11
3
4
1
2
X
O
11
3
2
4
1
X
12
2
1
3
4
1
X
X
12
3
1
4
2

Bb7b5 — A dominant seventh with the fifth flattened. It is a V chord under tension, and it resolves like one; the flat fifth just sharpens the pull.

Fret and finger numbers for Bb7b5
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 1 0 1 X 0– 1 – 2 – –
X 1 0 1 3 0– 1 – 2 3 –
X 1 2 1 3 0– 1 3 2 4 –
X 1 2 1 3 4– 1 2 1 3 4
6 X 0 9 9 01 – – 3 4 –
6 X 0 X 9 01 – – – 4 –
6 7 6 7 9 01 2 1 3 4 –
6 7 0 7 9 01 2 – 3 4 –
6 7 0 9 9 01 2 – 3 4 –
6 7 6 7 X 01 3 2 4 – –
6 7 6 7 9 61 2 1 3 4 1
X X 8 7 9 0– – 2 1 3 –
X X 8 9 9 10– – 1 2 3 4
X 13 0 13 11 0– 3 – 4 1 –
X 13 0 13 11 12– 3 – 4 1 2
X 13 12 13 11 0– 3 2 4 1 –
X 13 12 13 15 12– 2 1 3 4 1
X 13 12 13 X 12– 3 1 4 – 2

Bbaug7

BbDF#G#
7 shapes · open & play
X
O
X
1
2
3
X
O
1
2
4
3
X
1
4
1
3
2
X
X
4
4
3
1
2
6
1
4
1
2
3
1
X
X
8
1
4
2
3
X
X
12
2
1
3
4

Bbaug7 — A dominant seventh with the fifth raised. Same job as a plain seventh — pulling toward the chord a fourth above — with more strain in the middle of the chord.

Fret and finger numbers for Bbaug7
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 1 0 1 X 2– 1 – 2 – 3
X 1 0 1 3 2– 1 – 2 4 3
X 1 4 1 3 2– 1 4 1 3 2
6 5 4 X X 44 3 1 – – 2
6 9 6 7 7 61 4 1 2 3 1
X X 8 11 9 10– – 1 4 2 3
X 13 12 13 X 14– 2 1 3 – 4

Bbaug7b9

BbDF#G#B
6 shapes · open & play
X
O
O
1
2
3
O
4
4
3
1
1
2
O
4
3
2
1
4
1
4
3
2
1
1
4
1
O
6
1
4
1
2
3
X
O
12
2
3
1
4

Bbaug7b9 — A dominant seventh with both the fifth and the ninth altered. It exists to make the chord it resolves to sound like relief.

Fret and finger numbers for Bbaug7b9
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
X 1 0 1 0 2– 1 – 2 – 3
6 5 4 4 0 44 3 1 1 – 2
6 5 0 4 7 43 2 – 1 4 1
6 5 4 4 7 43 2 1 1 4 1
6 9 6 7 0 71 4 1 2 – 3
X 13 0 13 12 14– 2 – 3 1 4

Bbm7b9

BbC#FG#B
6 shapes · open & play
O
3
4
2
1
1
3
O
X
6
1
4
2
3
O
6
1
3
1
1
2
O
6
1
3
1
1
4
6
1
3
1
1
1
2
6
1
3
1
1
4
2

Bbm7b9 is the v and the iii chord of Eb minor and F# major.

Fret and finger numbers for Bbm7b9
Frets (low E → high E)Fingering
6 4 3 3 0 44 2 1 1 – 3
6 8 6 6 0 X1 4 2 3 – –
6 8 6 6 0 71 3 1 1 – 2
6 8 6 6 0 91 3 1 1 – 4
6 8 6 6 6 71 3 1 1 1 2
6 8 6 6 9 71 3 1 1 4 2

Every chord above has an open & play link that opens it in the interactive dictionary, where you can hear it and step through the shapes. You can also work backwards from a shape you are already holding.