Bm7 Chord on Guitar
Notes B D F♯ A. Start with open Bm7 (x 2 0 2 0 2): index on string 5, middle on string 3, ring on string 1, all at fret 2.
Chord · Bm7 minor 7th
Open Bm7 · x 2 0 2 0 2
open strings
Am7-shape barre (fret 2) · x 2 4 2 3 2
barre, movable
Em7-shape barre (fret 7) · 7 9 7 7 7 7
barre, movable
1 B♭3 D5 F♯♭7 A
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): index (1), fret 2
- String 4 (D): open
- String 3 (G): middle (2), fret 2
- String 2 (B): open
- String 1 (high e): ring (3), 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): index (1), fret 2
- 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): index (1), fret 7
- String 3 (G): index (1), fret 7
- String 2 (B): index (1), fret 7
- String 1 (high e): index (1), fret 7
Notes and formula
| Degree | Note | Interval from B |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | root |
| ♭3 | D | minor 3rd |
| 5 | F♯ | perfect 5th |
| ♭7 | A | minor 7th |
Formula 1 ♭3 5 ♭7 (minor 7th).
Also written Bmin7, B minor 7th.
More on this chord type: Minor 7th chords · 7th chords explained
Capo shapes that sound as Bm7
Open shapes you may already know, moved up with a capo.
Am7 shape + capo 2
Em7 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.
Keys that contain Bm7
| Key | Bm7 is the |
|---|---|
| B minor | i7 |
| E minor | v7 |
| F♯ minor | iv7 |
| D major | vi7 |
| A major | ii7 |
| G major | iii7 |
Minor keys here use the natural minor scale.
Playing Bm7: what goes wrong
Two open strings between the fingers
In open Bm7 the D string and the B string ring open between the fretted notes. Keep every finger on its tip and arched so it touches only its own string; string 6 is not played.
Bm7 in ii–V–I
Bm7 is the ii7 chord of A major: Bm7, E7, A is the ii–V–I cadence in A. In D major Bm7 is the vi7, in G major the iii7.
Related chords
Learn and practise Bm7
- Metronomepractise the change to Bm7 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 Bm7?
B, D, F♯, A: the 1, ♭3, 5, ♭7 of the Bm7 minor 7th chord.
What is the difference between Bm and Bm7?
Bm7 adds A, the flat 7th: B, D, F♯, A. The open Bm7 (x 2 0 2 0 2) is played with three fingers and no barre, with the D and B strings open.