Bm Chord on Guitar
Notes B D F♯. Start with the 4-string Bm (x x 4 4 3 2), then the Am-shape barre at fret 2.
Chord · Bm minor
Easy Bm (4 strings) · x x 4 4 3 2
movable, no open strings
Am-shape barre (fret 2) · x 2 4 4 3 2
barre, movable
Em-shape barre (fret 7) · 7 9 9 7 7 7
barre, movable
Dm-shape, 4 strings (fret 9) · x x 9 11 12 10
movable, no open strings
1 B♭3 D5 F♯
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): muted, do not play
- String 4 (D): ring (3), fret 4
- String 3 (G): pinky (4), fret 4
- String 2 (B): middle (2), fret 3
- String 1 (high e): index (1), fret 2
- Barre: index finger flat across strings 5 to 1 at fret 2
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): index (1), fret 2
- String 4 (D): ring (3), fret 4
- String 3 (G): pinky (4), fret 4
- String 2 (B): middle (2), fret 3
- String 1 (high e): index (1), fret 2
- Barre: index finger flat across strings 6 to 1 at fret 7
- String 6 (low E): index (1), fret 7
- String 5 (A): ring (3), fret 9
- String 4 (D): pinky (4), fret 9
- String 3 (G): index (1), fret 7
- String 2 (B): index (1), fret 7
- String 1 (high e): index (1), fret 7
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): muted, do not play
- String 4 (D): index (1), fret 9
- String 3 (G): ring (3), fret 11
- String 2 (B): pinky (4), fret 12
- String 1 (high e): middle (2), fret 10
Notes and formula
| Degree | Note | Interval from B |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | root |
| ♭3 | D | minor 3rd |
| 5 | F♯ | perfect 5th |
Formula 1 ♭3 5 (minor).
Also written Bmin, B minor.
More on this chord type: Barre chords
Capo shapes that sound as Bm
Open shapes you may already know, moved up with a capo.
Am shape + capo 2
Em shape + capo 7
Need the capo fret for a whole song? Capo calculator: any song key, any shapes. New to the capo? How to use a capo.
Easier stand-in
Bm7
x 2 0 2 0 2 uses two open strings and no barre. It adds A, so it suits a passing Bm better than one the song rests on.
Progressions with Bm
| Key · progression | Chords | Listen |
|---|---|---|
| B minor i–VI–III–VII | Bm – G – D – A | |
| B minor i–VII–VI–VII | Bm – A – G – A | |
| D major I–V–vi–IV | D – A – Bm – G | |
| D major I–vi–IV–V | D – Bm – G – A | |
| E minor i–iv–v–i | Em – Am – Bm – Em |
Keys that contain Bm
| Key | Bm is the |
|---|---|
| B minor | i |
| E minor | v |
| F♯ minor | iv |
| D major | vi |
| A major | ii |
| G major | iii |
Minor keys here use the natural minor scale.
Playing Bm: what goes wrong
The barre only has to press two strings
In the Am-shape at fret 2 (x 2 4 4 3 2) the index frets only strings 5 and 1; fingers 2, 3 and 4 cover the strings in between. Press with the tip on string 5 and the base of the finger on string 1 instead of squeezing the whole finger.
Learn the small shape first
The 4-string Bm is the top half of the barre shape. Once it rings, add the index on string 5 at fret 2 and you have the full chord.
Related chords
Learn and practise Bm
- Metronomepractise the change to Bm at 60 BPM
- How to read chord chartsstrings, frets, fingers, x and o
- Chord finder (chord namer)name any other shape you find
FAQ
What notes are in Bm?
B, D, F♯: the 1, ♭3, 5 of the Bm minor chord.
What is the easiest way to play Bm?
The 4-string Bm: index on string 1 fret 2, middle on string 2 fret 3, ring on string 4 fret 4, pinky on string 3 fret 4. Strings 5 and 6 are not played.