The Key Of B Minor For Guitar

The key of B minor contains the notes: B – C# – D – E – F# – G – A

When assembled in order the notes form the B natural minor scale. For a quick breakdown of the key differences between the natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor scales click here.

Table of Contents

The Sound of B Minor

The key of B minor is often associated with emotions such as sadness, longing, and introspection. It’s frequently used for conveying deep and heartfelt sentiments in music. Chord progressions in B minor often feature minor chords (Bm, C#m, Em, etc.) and the dominant major chord (F# major). These progressions can evoke a sense of tension and resolution, adding to the emotional depth of the key.

The B Minor Scale Step Pattern

The B minor scale (like all minor scales) follows the step pattern of:
whole, half, whole, whole, half, whole, whole

The B Minor Scale on Guitar

One way to play the B minor scale is to use the scale pattern shown below. Keep in mind scales can be played in many different ways.

Chords In The Key Of B Minor

All chords within a minor key such as B minor follow the pattern of:

minor, diminished, Major, minor, minor, Major, Major

min	dim	Maj	min	min	Maj	Maj
b	c#	D	e	f#	G	A

To create a minor chord, start by establishing a major chord based on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th notes of the accompanying major scale. For example, the B major scale gives us the notes B (1), D# (3), and F#(5).

To transform this into a B minor chord, simply lower the 3rd a half step (1 fret). This transforms the chord quality to minor, giving us the notes B, D, and F#.

Chord	Notes
B minor	B, D, F#
c# diminished	C#, E, G
D Major	D, F#, A
E minor	E, G, B
F# minor	F#, A, C#
G Major	G, B, D
A Major	A, C#, E

7th Chords in B Minor

Seventh chords are four-note chords that consist of a root note, third, fifth, and seventh scale degree. The seventh note adds complexity and color to the chord, creating a richer harmonic character. There are several types of seventh chords, each with its unique sound and function in music.

Chord	Notes
b minor 7	B, D, F#, A
c# minor seventh flat five	C#, E, G, B
D Major 7	D, F#, A, C#
E minor 7	E, G, B, D
F# minor 7	F#, A, C#, E
G Major 7	G, B, D, F#
A Dominant 7 (G7)	A, C#, E, G

Chord Function

Chords play roles within keys due to the interplay between the notes that make up the chords.

Tonic	Supertonic	Mediant	Subdominant	Dominant	Submediant	Subtonic
i	ii	III	iv	v	VI	VII
bm	c#dim	Dmaj	emin	f#min	Gmaj	Amaj

* Capitals denote Major chords, lower case denotes minor chords

Understanding chord function within minor keys allows musicians to explore the nuanced emotional and harmonic possibilities of minor tonalities, from melancholy and introspection to dramatic and expressive musical landscapes.

For example, The i chord (minor tonic) serves as the central point of stability in a minor key. As it is constructed on the tonic note of the minor scale (e.g., B in the key of B minor). This chord provides a sense of resolution in minor key compositions.

Alternatively, In the key of B minor, the dominant chord is F#min and creates a strong pull toward the tonic chord, B minor, creating a sense of resolution when the chord progression resolves back to the tonic.

Common Chord Progressions In B Minor

i – VI – VII	bmin – Gmaj – Amaj
i – VII – iv- VI	bmin – Amaj – emin – Gmaj
i – v – VI – VII	bmin – f#min – Gmaj – Amaj
i – III – VII – VI	bmin – Dmaj – Amaj – Gmaj
i – v – iv – VII	bmin – f#min – emin – Amaj

Relative Major

Relative major refers to the major key that shares the same key signature as a minor key. In other words, they use the same set of notes, but their tonal centers (the tonic) are different. In the key of B minor, D Major is the relative major.

Resources

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The Key of G Major for Guitar

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The Key of C Minor for Guitar

The key of C minor contains the notes: C – D – Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb When assembled in order the notes form the C natural minor scale (aka Aeolian mode). For a quick breakdown of the key differences between the natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor scales click […]

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