How to Play Guitar in the Key of A-Sharp/B-Flat

The key of B-flat (which is much more common than A-sharp, although identical in sound) is not very common in guitar music. This key is, however, played in songs that use lots of brass, such as many Motown songs.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Guitar Amplifiers
• Guitar Cables
• Guitar Cases
• Guitar Picks
• Guitar Stands
• Guitar Straps
• Guitars
• Metronome
• Set Of Guitar Strings
• Sheet Music For Guitar
• Guitar Magazine

The B-Flat Chord

1. Review and memorize the names of the strings. Lowest to highest, they are E-A-D-G-B-E.
2. Lay your index finger across the first fret, pressing down firmly on all of the strings.
3. Place your middle finger on the third fret of the D string.
4. Place your ring finger on the third fret of the G string.
5. Place your pinky on the third fret of the B string.
6. Strum the chord downward, from the lowest strings toward the highest.

The E-Flat, F and G-Minor Chords

7. Lay your index finger across the sixth fret, pressing down firmly on all of the strings to play the E-flat chord.
8. Place your middle finger on the eighth fret of the D string.
9. Place your ring finger on the eighth fret of the G string.
10. Place your pinky on the eighth fret of the B string.
11. Strum the strings downward to play the E-flat chord. 
12. Place your index finger over the first frets of the B and high E strings to play the F chord. This placement requires you to bend your finger a little to cover both notes.
13. Place your middle finger on the second fret of the G string.
14. Place your ring finger on the third fret of the A string.
15. Place your pinky on the third fret of the D string.
16. Mute the low E string with your thumb [E is not one of the three notes in the F major chord (F-A-C)] and strum the other strings downward to play the F chord.
17. Lay your index finger across all the strings on the first fret firmly to play the G-minor chord.
18. Place your pinky on the third fret of the D string.
19. Place your ring finger on the third fret of the A string.
20. Strum the strings downward to play the G-minor chord.

The Key of B-Flat

21. Freely strum the sequence B-flat, E-flat, F. Disregard tempo and meter for now.
22. Strum each chord four times repeating the sequence of B-flat, E-flat, F.
23. Strum B-flat four times, E-flat two times, and F two times and repeat.
24. Repeat Step 23 while keeping a steady tempo. Use a metronome if accessible.
25. Strum B-flat four times, E-flat two times, and F four times.
26. Strum each chord two times.
27. Strum B-flat two times, E-flat two times, G minor four times, and F four times.
28. Experiment with your own variations and progressions.

Tips & Warnings

• Instead of stretching these three fingers out over the third fret, you can bend your ring finger across the third fret of the D, G, and B strings.
• Instead of stretching three fingers out over the eighth fret, you can bend your ring finger across the eighth fret of the D, G, and B strings to play the E-flat chord.