B Minor Guitar Chord (Bm)
Bm
| Name | B minor | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | B | D | F# |
| Intervals | Rroot | b3minor 3rd | 55th |
Root
Chord type
- Space Play
- Left arrowRight arrow Root
- Up arrowDown arrow Chord type
Shape
Tone
Dots show
Bm is the chord that stops a lot of beginners: there's no simple open shape, so the standard version uses a barre. The good news is there's an easy 4-string version you can play today, and it sounds almost the same.
How to play the Bm chord
- Don't play the low E string.
- Lay your 1st finger flat across the A to high E strings at the 2nd fret (a barre).
- Put your 3rd finger on the 4th fret of the D string (F#).
- Put your 4th finger (pinky) on the 4th fret of the G string (B).
- Put your 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the B string (D).
- Strum from the A string down, skipping the string above it.
TipYour 1st finger only has to hold down the A string and the high E string at the 2nd fret, the other three fingers cover the middle. So don't crush it flat across everything, just press where it counts.
Easier versionNot ready for the barre? Play only the top four strings (xx4432): 3rd finger on the D string and 4th finger on the G string at the 4th fret, 2nd finger on the B string at the 3rd fret, 1st finger on the high E at the 2nd fret. Then work toward the full shape.
4 ways to play Bm
Every shape below is a real Bm, checked note by note: B, D, F# and nothing else. Easiest first, with the dark dot on the root.
B vs Bm: hear the difference
Only one note changes: Bm has D (the minor 3rd), B has D# (the major 3rd). Play them back to back:
Bm
BDF#
Darker and sadder
B
BD#F#
Bright and settled
Chord progressions with Bm
Chords make sense once you move between them. Press play to hear each progression with the real recordings, one chord per bar, then play along. Tap any chord to open its page.
Practice changing to Bm
Switching chords cleanly is what makes a new chord usable in a song. Start the timer, then go back and forth between Bm and the chord you picked, strumming each one, and keep a count in your head. Your hands stay on the guitar the whole time. When it beeps, type in your count and try to beat it next time.
Bm to G
60seconds
-last try
-your best
Songs that use Bm
- Hotel California by EaglesOpens the verse loop Bm-F#-A-E-G-D-Em-F#
- Wicked Game by Chris IsaakWhole song is Bm-A-E
- Hey There Delilah by Plain White T'sVerse Bm-G-A and chorus D-Bm
- With or Without You by U2Whole song is D-A-Bm-G
Learn it with a teacher
Diagrams show you where your fingers go. A teacher shows you how to make it sound good. Start with these video lessons from the Infinite Guitar library:
Mastering Bar Chords - Introduction
Free with an account · Chris Feener
Mastering Bar Chords - Locating the Root Notes
Free with an account · Chris Feener
The Minor Chord
Free with an account · Mike Edwin
Introduction To Guitar - Chords
Free with an account · Chris Feener
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Chords related to Bm
Chords that go with Bm
Other B chords
Other minor chords
Bm chord FAQ
What notes are in a Bm chord?
Bm has 3 notes: B (the root), D (the minor 3rd) and F# (the 5th). Every Bm shape on the guitar is those notes in a different order.
What is the difference between B and Bm?
Only one note changes: Bm has D (the minor 3rd), B has D# (the major 3rd). Use the player above to hear both.
Is Bm hard to play?
It's one of the harder ones, because the main shape uses a barre. Start with the easy 4-string version above, then work toward the main shape.
How do you play Bm as a barre chord?
Barre the 2nd fret with your 1st finger (x-2-4-4-3-2). That shape is movable: slide it up or down and it plays a minor chord on every fret.
What key is Bm in?
It's the i chord in B minor, the vi chord in D major, the ii chord in A major and the iii chord in G major.