The B♭ power chord (B♭5) is one of the most frequently used power chords across rock, metal, and punk genres, featuring just the root (B♭) and perfect fifth with the third deliberately omitted. This two-note construction creates the neutral, neither-major-nor-minor sound that allows power chords like the B♭5 to work effectively in any harmonic context, providing the flexibility that heavy music demands. The B♭ power chord's simple structure is perfectly suited to distorted guitar tones, where it maintains clarity and punch without the harmonic muddiness that more complex chord voicings would introduce. Whether you're playing classic rock riffs, modern metal chugs, or driving punk progressions, the B♭5 provides the bold, aggressive character that has made power chords indispensable in guitar-driven music for over half a century. The B♭5 power chord dominates countless iconic riffs across rock history, appearing prominently in AC/DC's catalog (tuned down half-step), Green Day's punk anthems (standard tuning), and classic Metallica tracks alongside E♭5, F5, and A♭5. This chord is particularly common on the first fret of standard-tuned guitars (5th string root) and the third fret of drop D tuning, making it ergonomically comfortable for fast chord changes. The B♭5 functions as the V chord in E♭ major progressions and appears extensively in blues-rock contexts, cementing its status as one of the most practically useful power chords across multiple genres and tuning configurations, enharmonically equivalent to A♯5.
Scale degrees of each note in the B♭ Fifth chord.
| Note | Number | Name |
|---|---|---|
| B♭ | 1 | Tonic |
| F | 5 | Dominant |
Intervals from the root note of the B♭ Fifth chord.
| Notes | Semitones | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| B♭ → B♭ | 0 | Perfect Unison (P1) |
| B♭ → F | 7 | Perfect 5th (P5) |
Explore chords that share the same key as the B♭ Fifth chord.