Banjo B♭7 chord (Open G)B♭ seventh on the 5-string banjo: 3 1 3 3, and 6 more shapes

Frets, string 4 to string 1: 3 1 3 3 (first position) · no root

1. String 4 (D): 3rd fret, middle finger, F
2. String 3 (G): 1st fret, index finger, A♭
3. String 2 (B): 3rd fret, ring finger, D
4. String 1 (D): 3rd fret, little finger, F
5. String 5, the short g: open, G, not in the chord

Sounds: F A♭ D F  ·  B♭7 is B♭, D, F, A♭ (1 · 3 · 5 · ♭7)

The 5th string: the short g rubs against the A♭ in this shape, a semitone away: some players let it ring, some skip it.

Up the neck: Barre 7 shape: 3 3 3 6 (3fr); F7 shape: 8 7 6 6 (6fr); E7 shape: 8 7 9 8 (7fr); D7 shape: 8 10 9 12 (8fr). Slide a shape up or down to play another chord of its kind.

With a capo: on the 3rd fret it’s 0 0 0 3 (frets counted from the capo), an open G7 shape. Spike the 5th string at the 8th fret to keep it in tune with the capo.

Open G tuning: gDGBD, the short 5th string first, then strings 4 to 1.