Unlocking Jazz and Blues

The Bb (B Flat) note is the king of horn keys. If you want to play with saxophone or trumpet players, you need to know where Bb lives. It is also the "Blue Note" in the key of G, giving you that weeping, melancholic sound.

Practice Tip

Start by finding Bb on the 5th String (1st Fret) and the 6th String (6th Fret). Notice how it is just one fret lower than B. This "flattening" concept is key to understanding music theory on the guitar.