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Guitar chords · Minor

Bm chord on guitar

Bm (B minor) has three notes: B, D and F♯, the , ♭3 and 5.

Shapes

How to play Bm

Strum a shape to hear it, or pick it one string at a time. R marks the ; the other numbers are the chord tones.

Bm has no common . Play it as the A shape at 2 or the E shape at fret 7. A keeps its fingering anywhere on the neck: slide it up or down and the , on the lowest played string, names the chord.

  • A shape · fret 2

    ×R5R♭35BF♯BDF♯

  • E shape · fret 7

    7frR5R♭35RBF♯BDF♯B
Name a shape you're holding: the chord finder

Notes and formula

What makes Bm minor

A minor chord lowers the 3rd of the major chord by a . That one note gives it its darker, sadder colour.

  • 1Root: the note the chord is named after. Keep it.
  • 3Essential: makes the chord what it is. Never drop it.
  • 5Optional: drop it first when you run out of fingers.

The ♭3rd makes Bm a minor chord; you can leave out the 5th.

  1. BRroot
  2. D♭3essential
  3. F♯5optional
EADGBE0135791215BBBBBBBBF♯DF♯DF♯DF♯DDF♯DF♯DF♯DF♯
  • B, the root
  • Other chord tones

Keys

Keys with Bm

Bm belongs to six keys: G major (iii), D major (vi), A major (ii), E minor (v), B minor (i) and F♯ minor (iv).

Numerals follow the key's own scale, so III, VI and VII in a minor key are its own major chords. A ♭ or ♯ in front marks a chord from outside the key. How Roman numerals work

Progressions

Progressions with Bm

Common progressions that use Bm, each in a key that spells it Bm. The outlined chord is Bm.

  • The pop axis in D major

    I – V – vi – IV

    1. D
    2. A
    3. Bm
    4. G

    Four chords that carry a huge share of modern pop. All four sit next to each other on the circle.

    Heard in Let It Be, No Woman No Cry, With or Without You

  • '50s doo-wop in D major

    I – vi – IV – V

    1. D
    2. Bm
    3. G
    4. A

    The vi chord softens the move from I to IV before the V pulls back home.

    Heard in Stand by Me, Every Breath You Take

  • Minor pop in B minor

    i – VI – III – VII

    1. Bm
    2. G
    3. D
    4. A

    The pop axis rotated to start on the relative minor — same four chords, darker centre.

    Heard in Zombie, Numb, Despacito

  • Andalusian cadence in B minor

    i – VII – VI – V

    1. Bm
    2. A
    3. G
    4. F♯

    A stepwise walk down to a major V borrowed from harmonic minor. Flamenco's signature move.

    Heard in Hit the Road Jack, Runaway, Stray Cat Strut

Slash chords

Bm over another bass note

A keeps Bm on top and puts another note in the bass: the letter after the slash is the lowest note you play.

  • Bm/D

    Bm with its ♭3rd, D, in the bass: the first inversion.

  • Bm/F♯

    Bm with its 5th, F♯, in the bass: the second inversion.

  • Bm/A

    Bm over A, a passing bass a below the , as in Bm, Bm/A, Bm/G♯, G.

  • Bm/G♯

    Bm over G♯, a passing bass a major 6th above the , as in Bm, Bm/A, Bm/G♯, G.

Same root

Other chords on B

Change one or two notes and the same gives a different colour. Compare them by ear.

Questions

Bm, in short

What notes are in the Bm chord?
Bm (B minor) has three notes: B, D and F♯, the , ♭3 and 5.
How do you play Bm on guitar?
Bm has no common . Play it as the A shape at 2 or the E shape at fret 7.
What key is Bm in?
Bm belongs to six keys: G major (iii), D major (vi), A major (ii), E minor (v), B minor (i) and F♯ minor (iv).
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