IMPORTANT NOTE: THIS IS NOT A SIX-NOTE CHORD! Some students find it more comfortable to do the Bb chord this way. The other two fingers are still in a bridge-like flex. Notice that to do so we extend our whole index finger so that it is straightened. I had a student who was a retired massage therapist who could not manage this version of the Bb at all! So here is an alternative. Some of my students have less movement in the joints of their fingers because of injury, arthritis or other causes. I have had some students who for a variety of reasons can not manage such a strong extension in part of the index finger. The only other application of such a movement that I can think of at the moment is making shadow puppets! However, in ukulele and guitar playing it is a very helpful movement to be able to do. Having one finger extend while the other two fingers flex is not something we usually do in our daily lives. The two top segments of the index finger are flattened out in quite a dynamic extension, while the other two fingers are curved in a bridge-like flex. Notice how the index finger is being used very differently from the other two fingers. The above photo shows how I usually introduce the Bb chord. As we discuss some options, I believe some important concepts about the use of the index finger will come up, and we can build on them. It can a bit of a shock if you’re used to playing songs with C, Am, F and G7! I am going to take a little time to talk about the various ways that my students have played this chord over the years. The Bb chord is usually the first chord we encounter where we are asked to bar with our index finger.

B flat on ukulele