A# Chord on Ukulele
A# = A# – D – F (Root, Major 3rd, Perfect 5th)
Chord charts almost never write out A# major — the same pitch collection gets called Bb major nearly everywhere it appears, since flat spellings dominate real-world sheet music for this particular note. On the ukulele it takes three fingers spread across the first three frets: the ring finger reaches the G string's third fret, the middle finger sits on the C string's second fret, and the index finger lies flat across both the E and A strings at the first fret, forming a small two-string partial barre. That barre is the trickiest part of the shape, since it asks the index finger to hold two strings evenly while two other fingers occupy entirely different frets just above it.
Bb major isn't part of any of the ukulele's most frequently taught keys, but it shows up constantly on loan from elsewhere — most often as the bVII in the key of C, a rock and pop staple that darkens a progression with a flattened, non-diatonic pull just before resolving back to the tonic. It's also the IV chord in the key of F, doing the same lifting work there that F itself does in the key of C, and the V chord in the key of Eb. None of its notes come from an open string the way C or G's chords do, so wherever Bb turns up in a chart, it tends to sound like a deliberate harmonic choice rather than a chord the arrangement simply fell into.
Fingerings
Open Position
How to Practice It
Build the two-string barre first, in isolation: lay the index finger flat across the E and A strings at fret one and strum just those two strings, listening for an even, unbuzzed tone on both before adding anything else. Then drop the middle finger onto the C string's second fret and the ring finger onto the G string's third fret, checking that the ring finger's higher position doesn't accidentally lean over and mute the barre below it. Because this shape has no open strings at all, every one of the four notes depends on finger placement, so pluck each string on its own before attempting a full strum, and practice releasing the whole shape cleanly, since the bVII-to-I move (Bb into C) is the specific transition most likely to follow it in a real progression.
Common Progressions
- bVII – I, a common rock cadence in the key of C (Bb – C)
- IV – I – V, in the key of F (Bb – F – C)
- I – V – vi – bVII (C – G – Am – Bb)
- V – I, in the key of Eb (Bb – Eb)
FAQ
- Is A# major the same chord as Bb major?
- Yes, they're the identical pitch collection — A# and Bb name the same note, and chord charts overwhelmingly use the flat spelling Bb, though the shape and sound are exactly the same either way.
- Why is the Bb shape harder than open chords like C or F?
- It has no open strings, so all four fretted notes need to ring cleanly at once, and it also asks for a small two-string barre with the index finger while two other fingers hold separate frets above it.
- Where does Bb major typically show up in a song?
- Most often as a borrowed bVII chord in the key of C, giving a progression a darker, non-diatonic color right before it resolves back to the tonic, and also as the IV chord in the key of F.
- What's the best way to isolate the barre in this shape?
- Strum only the E and A strings with the index finger flat across both, before adding the middle and ring fingers, so any unevenness in the barre itself gets caught early rather than buried under the rest of the chord.
- Does Bb major ever function as a key center in its own right, not just a borrowed chord?
- Yes, though less often on ukulele than on guitar or piano — Bb is a common home key for brass and woodwind-friendly arrangements, and its own I-IV-V (Bb-Eb-F) is playable in this same fretted, no-open-string style throughout.
- Why does a chord with no open strings feel harder to keep in tune while strumming?
- Every note here depends entirely on consistent finger pressure, so any small relaxation in the fretting hand during a fast strum shows up immediately as a flat or buzzing note, unlike an open chord that has a stable open string to anchor the pitch.
A# on other instruments: A# on Guitar, A# on Piano. Related: how chords are built, chord finder.