About the B minor chord
The minor chord lowers the third by a semitone, which gives it a darker, sadder colour than the major. It appears in almost every style, from folk to metal. The symbol for it is Bm.
How to play Bm
- Lay your index finger flat across the top 5 strings at fret 2, pressing just behind the fret.
- Put your middle finger on the B string at fret 3.
- Put your ring finger on the D string at fret 4.
- Put your little finger on the G string at fret 4.
- Strum and don't play the low E string.
1 index · 2 middle · 3 ring · 4 little
Chords in the key of B minor
These are the chords built on each note of the B minor scale, so they all sound good together with Bm. The Roman numeral under each one is its position in the key.
Other B chords
Bm chord questions
What notes are in a B minor chord?
B minor is made of B, D and F♯. In intervals that is 1, ♭3, 5 above the root, B.
What is the easiest way to play Bm?
The first shape above is the most common one: x 2 4 4 3 2 from the low E string to the high E, where x means don't play that string and 0 means play it open. Start there, and try the other shapes once it feels comfortable.
Is Bm a barre chord?
The main shape uses a barre, where one finger holds down several strings at once. Press just behind the fret and roll the finger slightly onto its side.