B Minor 7 Guitar Chord (Bm7)
Bm7
| Name | B minor 7 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | B | D | F# | A |
| Intervals | Rroot | b3minor 3rd | 55th | b7flat 7th |
Root
Chord type
- Space Play
- Left arrowRight arrow Root
- Up arrowDown arrow Chord type
Shape
Tone
Dots show
Bm7 is the friendlier cousin of Bm: the barre at the 2nd fret is still there, but your pinky gets the day off.
How to play the Bm7 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 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the B string (D).
- Strum from the A string down, skipping the string above it.
TipBarre the 2nd fret with your 1st finger, then just two fingers on top: 3rd finger on the D string, 2nd finger on the B string.
3 ways to play Bm7
Every shape below is a real Bm7, checked note by note: B, D, F#, A and nothing else. Easiest first, with the dark dot on the root.
Bm vs Bm7: hear the difference
Bm7 is Bm plus A (the flat 7th). Play them back to back:
Bm7
BDF#A
Mellow and smooth
Bm
BDF#
Darker and sadder
Chord progressions with Bm7
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 Bm7
Switching chords cleanly is what makes a new chord usable in a song. Start the timer, then go back and forth between Bm7 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.
Bm7 to E7
60seconds
-last try
-your best
Songs that use Bm7
- Moondance by Van MorrisonVerse riff Am7-Bm7
- Lovely Day by Bill WithersVerse E-C#m7-Amaj7-Cmaj7-Bm7
- Breathe by Pink FloydChorus Cmaj7-Bm7-Fmaj7-G
- Just the Way You Are by Billy JoelVerse line D/F#-Bm7-E9
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
Shell Voicings - Build Your Chord Vocabulary
Free lesson · Tom Quayle
Voice Leading: Intro
Free with an account · Mike Salow
Access these lessons with a free account. No payment needed. Sign up free
Chords related to Bm7
Chords that go with Bm7
Other B chords
Other minor 7 chords
Bm7 chord FAQ
What notes are in a Bm7 chord?
Bm7 has 4 notes: B (the root), D (the minor 3rd), F# (the 5th) and A (the flat 7th). Every Bm7 shape on the guitar is those notes in a different order.
What is the difference between Bm and Bm7?
Bm7 is Bm plus A (the flat 7th). Use the player above to hear both.
Is Bm7 hard to play?
It's one of the harder ones, because the main shape uses a barre. Practice it a minute a day: a barre gets easier fast once your hand learns how little pressure it needs.
How do you play Bm7 as a barre chord?
Barre the 2nd fret with your 1st finger (x-2-4-2-3-2). That shape is movable: slide it up or down and it plays a minor 7 chord on every fret.