B minor seventh chord (Bm7)
The B minor seventh chord (Bm7) is a minor seventh chord: a minor triad with a minor seventh on top, B, D, F♯ and A (root, minor third, perfect fifth and minor seventh).
It is the ii7 in A major and the vi7 in D major; its relative is D major seventh, 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 seventh on guitar
There are 3 guitar voicings.
Frets from the 6th string to the 1st: x = not played, 0 = open string.
- Voicing 1: x-2-0-2-0-2, open position, with B in the bass (fingers x-2-0-3-0-4).
- Voicing 2: 7-9-7-7-7-7, movable E-shape barre chord at fret 7, with B in the bass.
- Voicing 3: x-2-4-2-3-2, movable A-shape barre chord at fret 2, with B in the bass.
Notes of the B minor seventh chord on the fretboard
B minor seventh has 4 notes: B, D, F♯ and A. This is where they fall on each string, from the nut to the 12th fret (fret number in parentheses):
- String 6 (E): F♯ (2) · A (5) · B (7) · D (10)
- String 5 (A): A (0) · B (2) · D (5) · F♯ (9) · A (12)
- String 4 (D): D (0) · F♯ (4) · A (7) · B (9) · D (12)
- String 3 (G): A (2) · B (4) · D (7) · F♯ (11)
- String 2 (B): B (0) · D (3) · F♯ (7) · A (10) · B (12)
- String 1 (E): F♯ (2) · A (5) · B (7) · D (10)
Formula and intervals of B minor seventh
Its formula is 1-♭3-5-♭7; in semitones from the root, 0-3-7-10.
- 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
- A: Minor seventh (m7), 10 semitones above B
B minor seventh on ukulele
- Ukulele (G C E A): 2-2-2-2, barre at fret 2; it sounds A, D, F♯ and B.
B minor seventh on piano
- Keys: B4, D5, F♯5 and A5.
Inversions of B minor seventh
Each inversion puts a different note in the bass.
- Root position: B, D, F♯ and A, with B in the bass.
- First inversion (Bm7/D): D, F♯, A and B, with D in the bass.
- Second inversion (Bm7/F♯): F♯, A, B and D, with F♯ in the bass.
- Third inversion (Bm7/A): A, B, D and F♯, with A in the bass.
Keys that use B minor seventh
B minor seventh appears in 6 major and minor keys.
| Key | Degree | Function |
|---|---|---|
| A major (3 sharps) | ii7 | Supertonic |
| G major (1 sharp) | iii7 | Mediant |
| D major (2 sharps) | vi7 | Submediant |
| B minor (2 sharps) | i7 | Tonic |
| F♯ minor (3 sharps) | iv7 | Subdominant |
| E minor (1 sharp) | v7 | Dominant |
Progressions with B minor seventh
- Jazz ii–V–I in A major (ii7–V7–Imaj7): Bm7 – E7 – Amaj7
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the B minor seventh chord?
B, D, F♯ and A: root, minor third, perfect fifth and minor seventh. Its formula is 1-♭3-5-♭7.
Which keys use B minor seventh?
Mainly as the ii7 in A major and the vi7 in D major. In total it appears in 6 major and minor keys.
What is the relative of B minor seventh?
D major seventh: they share three of their four notes. In the key where D major seventh is Imaj7, B minor seventh is vi7; in a major key, the minor seventh chords are ii7, iii7 and vi7.