diff --git a/cmd/bd/aliases.go b/cmd/bd/aliases.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ba1b9950c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/bd/aliases.go
@@ -0,0 +1,204 @@
+package main
+
+// aliases.go — top-level command shortcuts (GH#2611)
+//
+// These add intuitive aliases for commonly attempted commands:
+//   bd comment <id> "text"    → bd comments add <id> "text"
+//   bd assign <id> <name>     → bd update <id> --assignee <name>
+//   bd tag <id> <label>       → bd update <id> --add-label <label>
+//   bd note <id> "text"       → bd update <id> --notes "text"
+//   bd priority <id> <n>      → bd update <id> --priority <n>
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/beads/internal/utils"
+)
+
+var commentAliasCmd = &cobra.Command{
+	Use:     "comment [issue-id] [text]",
+	GroupID: "issues",
+	Short:   "Add a comment to an issue (shortcut for 'comments add')",
+	Args:    cobra.MinimumNArgs(1),
+	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+		CheckReadonly("comment")
+		if len(args) < 2 {
+			FatalErrorRespectJSON("usage: bd comment <id> \"text\"")
+		}
+		issueID := args[0]
+		commentText := strings.Join(args[1:], " ")
+
+		if strings.TrimSpace(commentText) == "" {
+			FatalErrorRespectJSON("comment text cannot be empty")
+		}
+
+		if err := ensureStoreActive(); err != nil {
+			FatalErrorRespectJSON("adding comment: %v", err)
+		}
+		ctx := rootCtx
+
+		fullID, err := utils.ResolvePartialID(ctx, store, issueID)
+		if err != nil {
+			FatalErrorRespectJSON("resolving %s: %v", issueID, err)
+		}
+
+		comment, err := store.AddIssueComment(ctx, fullID, getActorWithGit(), commentText)
+		if err != nil {
+			FatalErrorRespectJSON("adding comment: %v", err)
+		}
+
+		if jsonOutput {
+			outputJSON(comment)
+			return
+		}
+		fmt.Printf("Comment added to %s\n", fullID)
+	},
+}
+
+var assignAliasCmd = &cobra.Command{
+	Use:     "assign [issue-id] [assignee]",
+	GroupID: "issues",
+	Short:   "Assign an issue (shortcut for 'update --assignee')",
+	Args:    cobra.ExactArgs(2),
+	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+		CheckReadonly("assign")
+		issueID := args[0]
+		assignee := args[1]
+
+		if err := ensureStoreActive(); err != nil {
+			FatalErrorRespectJSON("assigning: %v", err)
+		}
+		ctx := rootCtx
+
+		fullID, err := utils.ResolvePartialID(ctx, store, issueID)
+		if err != nil {
+			FatalErrorRespectJSON("resolving %s: %v", issueID, err)
+		}
+
+		if err := store.UpdateIssue(ctx, fullID, map[string]interface{}{
+			"assignee": assignee,
+		}, actor); err != nil {
+			FatalErrorRespectJSON("assigning %s: %v", fullID, err)
+		}
+
+		if !jsonOutput {
+			fmt.Printf("Assigned %s to %s\n", fullID, assignee)
+		}
+	},
+}
+
+var tagAliasCmd = &cobra.Command{
+	Use:     "tag [issue-id] [label]",
+	GroupID: "issues",
+	Short:   "Add a label to an issue (shortcut for 'update --add-label')",
+	Args:    cobra.ExactArgs(2),
+	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+		CheckReadonly("tag")
+		issueID := args[0]
+		label := args[1]
+
+		if err := ensureStoreActive(); err != nil {
+			FatalErrorRespectJSON("tagging: %v", err)
+		}
+		ctx := rootCtx
+
+		fullID, err := utils.ResolvePartialID(ctx, store, issueID)
+		if err != nil {
+			FatalErrorRespectJSON("resolving %s: %v", issueID, err)
+		}
+
+		if err := store.AddLabel(ctx, fullID, label, actor); err != nil {
+			FatalErrorRespectJSON("adding label to %s: %v", fullID, err)
+		}
+
+		if !jsonOutput {
+			fmt.Printf("Added label '%s' to %s\n", label, fullID)
+		}
+	},
+}
+
+var noteAliasCmd = &cobra.Command{
+	Use:     "note [issue-id] [text]",
+	GroupID: "issues",
+	Short:   "Set notes on an issue (shortcut for 'update --notes')",
+	Args:    cobra.MinimumNArgs(2),
+	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+		CheckReadonly("note")
+		issueID := args[0]
+		noteText := strings.Join(args[1:], " ")
+
+		if err := ensureStoreActive(); err != nil {
+			FatalErrorRespectJSON("setting notes: %v", err)
+		}
+		ctx := rootCtx
+
+		fullID, err := utils.ResolvePartialID(ctx, store, issueID)
+		if err != nil {
+			FatalErrorRespectJSON("resolving %s: %v", issueID, err)
+		}
+
+		if err := store.UpdateIssue(ctx, fullID, map[string]interface{}{
+			"notes": noteText,
+		}, actor); err != nil {
+			FatalErrorRespectJSON("setting notes on %s: %v", fullID, err)
+		}
+
+		if !jsonOutput {
+			fmt.Printf("Notes updated on %s\n", fullID)
+		}
+	},
+}
+
+var priorityAliasCmd = &cobra.Command{
+	Use:     "priority [issue-id] [level]",
+	GroupID: "issues",
+	Short:   "Set priority on an issue (shortcut for 'update --priority')",
+	Args:    cobra.ExactArgs(2),
+	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+		CheckReadonly("priority")
+		issueID := args[0]
+		priorityStr := args[1]
+
+		priority, err := strconv.Atoi(priorityStr)
+		if err != nil {
+			FatalErrorRespectJSON("invalid priority %q: must be a number (0-4)", priorityStr)
+		}
+
+		if err := ensureStoreActive(); err != nil {
+			FatalErrorRespectJSON("setting priority: %v", err)
+		}
+		ctx := rootCtx
+
+		fullID, err := utils.ResolvePartialID(ctx, store, issueID)
+		if err != nil {
+			FatalErrorRespectJSON("resolving %s: %v", issueID, err)
+		}
+
+		if err := store.UpdateIssue(ctx, fullID, map[string]interface{}{
+			"priority": priority,
+		}, actor); err != nil {
+			FatalErrorRespectJSON("setting priority on %s: %v", fullID, err)
+		}
+
+		if !jsonOutput {
+			fmt.Printf("Priority set to P%d on %s\n", priority, fullID)
+		}
+	},
+}
+
+func init() {
+	commentAliasCmd.ValidArgsFunction = issueIDCompletion
+	assignAliasCmd.ValidArgsFunction = issueIDCompletion
+	tagAliasCmd.ValidArgsFunction = issueIDCompletion
+	noteAliasCmd.ValidArgsFunction = issueIDCompletion
+	priorityAliasCmd.ValidArgsFunction = issueIDCompletion
+
+	rootCmd.AddCommand(commentAliasCmd)
+	rootCmd.AddCommand(assignAliasCmd)
+	rootCmd.AddCommand(tagAliasCmd)
+	rootCmd.AddCommand(noteAliasCmd)
+	rootCmd.AddCommand(priorityAliasCmd)
+}