B minor chord (Bm)
The B minor chord (Bm) is a minor triad made of B, D and F♯: root, minor third and perfect fifth.
It is the i in B minor and the vi in D major; its relative major is D major, and F♯ dominant seventh leads into it as its V7.
Below: voicings, notes on the fretboard, ukulele, piano, inversions and progressions.
How to play B minor on guitar
There are 2 guitar voicings.
Frets from the 6th string to the 1st: x = not played, 0 = open string.
- Voicing 1: x-2-4-4-3-2, barre at fret 2, with B in the bass (fingers x-1-3-4-2-1).
- Voicing 2: 7-9-9-7-7-7, barre at fret 7, with B in the bass (fingers 1-3-4-1-1-1).
Notes of the B minor chord on the fretboard
B minor has 3 notes: B, D and F♯. This is where they fall on each string, from the nut to the 12th fret (fret number in parentheses):
- String 6 (E): F♯ (2) · B (7) · D (10)
- String 5 (A): B (2) · D (5) · F♯ (9)
- String 4 (D): D (0) · F♯ (4) · B (9) · D (12)
- String 3 (G): B (4) · D (7) · F♯ (11)
- String 2 (B): B (0) · D (3) · F♯ (7) · B (12)
- String 1 (E): F♯ (2) · B (7) · D (10)
Formula and intervals of B minor
Its formula is 1-♭3-5; in semitones from the root, 0-3-7.
- B: Root, the note that gives the chord its name
- D: Minor third (m3), 3 semitones above B
- F♯: Perfect fifth (P5), 7 semitones above B
B minor on ukulele
- Ukulele (G C E A): 4-2-2-2, barre at fret 2; it sounds B, D, F♯ and B.
B minor on piano
- Keys: B4, D5 and F♯5.
Inversions of B minor
Each inversion puts a different note in the bass.
- Root position: B, D and F♯, with B in the bass.
- First inversion (Bm/D): D, F♯ and B, with D in the bass.
- Second inversion (Bm/F♯): F♯, B and D, with F♯ in the bass.
Keys that use B minor
B minor appears in 6 major and minor keys.
| Key | Degree | Function |
|---|---|---|
| A major (3 sharps) | ii | Supertonic |
| G major (1 sharp) | iii | Mediant |
| D major (2 sharps) | vi | Submediant |
| B minor (2 sharps) | i | Tonic |
| F♯ minor (3 sharps) | iv | Subdominant |
| E minor (1 sharp) | v | Dominant |
Progressions with B minor
- Pop progression in D major (I–V–vi–IV): D – A – Bm – G
- Pop progression starting on vi in D major (vi–IV–I–V): Bm – G – D – A
- Turnaround in D major (I–vi–ii–V): D – Bm – Em – A
- Minor cadence in B minor (i–iv–V7): Bm – Em – F♯7
- Minor pop progression in B minor (i–VI–III–VII): Bm – G – D – A
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the B minor chord?
B, D and F♯: root, minor third and perfect fifth. Its formula is 1-♭3-5.
Which keys use B minor?
Mainly as the i in B minor and the vi in D major. In total it appears in 6 major and minor keys.
What is the relative major of B minor?
D major. B minor and D major are the tonic chords of two relative keys, which share the same key signature and the same scale notes.