Note identifier · Reference entry
What chord is C–F–B♭?
Ranked readings
Every chord these notes can spell, most complete first. The bass note anchors the root-position reading; each candidate maps every note to its scale degree.
All tones of B♭sus2 are present; the C note is lowest (1st inversion).
| Degree | Note | In this set |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B♭ | sounding |
| 2 | C | sounding |
| 5 | F | sounding |
All tones of Fsus4 are present; the C note is lowest (2nd inversion).
| Degree | Note | In this set |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | F | sounding |
| 4 | B♭ | sounding |
| 5 | C | sounding |
root, 4th, and ♭7 of C7sus4 sound; it reads as C7sus4 with the G (5) omitted.
| Degree | Note | In this set |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | sounding |
| 4 | F | sounding |
| 5 | G | omitted |
| ♭7 | B♭ | sounding |
3rd, 6th, and 9th of A♭6/9 sound; it reads as A♭6/9 with the A♭ (1) and E♭ (5) omitted.
| Degree | Note | In this set |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A♭ | omitted |
| 3 | C | sounding |
| 5 | E♭ | omitted |
| 6 | F | sounding |
| 9 | B♭ | sounding |
♭3, ♭7, and 11th of Gm11 sound; it reads as Gm11 with the G (1), D (5), and A (9) omitted.
| Degree | Note | In this set |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | G | omitted |
| ♭3 | B♭ | sounding |
| 5 | D | omitted |
| ♭7 | F | sounding |
| 9 | A | omitted |
| 11 | C | sounding |
3rd, 7th, and 13th of D♭maj13 sound; it reads as D♭maj13 with the D♭ (1), A♭ (5), E♭ (9), and G♭ (11) omitted.
| Degree | Note | In this set |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | D♭ | omitted |
| 3 | F | sounding |
| 5 | A♭ | omitted |
| 7 | C | sounding |
| 9 | E♭ | omitted |
| 11 | G♭ | omitted |
| 13 | B♭ | sounding |
Not these chords
Names these notes are often mistaken for. Each is ruled out because a defining tone of that chord is missing — the note that would make the name true simply is not being played.
Not C9sus4: a dominant 9th sus4 C chord needs D as its 9th — D is absent.
Not C11: a dominant 11th C chord needs E as its 3rd — E is absent.
Not Cm11: a minor 11th C chord needs E♭ as its ♭3 — E♭ is absent.
Not C13sus4: a dominant 13th sus4 C chord needs A as its 13th — A is absent.
Not Cm11♭5: a minor 11th ♭5 C chord needs E♭ as its ♭3 and G♭ as its ♭5 — E♭ and G♭ are absent.
How these notes relate
C, F, and B♭ is a voicing of C7sus4 with the G (5th) left out.
The same notes over F in the bass spell Fsus4.
Add D (its 9th) and the set reads as C9sus4.
Set-class analysis
The pitch-class set theory identity of these notes — order- and key-independent, computed from the set itself.
- Pitch-class set
- {0, 5, 10}
- Normal order
- [10,0,5]
- Prime form
- [0,2,7]
- Interval vector
- <010020>
- Forte set class
- 3-9
Play a chord and hear it named live at What am I playing? · Report an error