B Minor Chord
The B Minor chord is a minor chord built on the root note B. Its notes are B, D and F♯.
Minor chords have a darker, more introspective quality. A root, a minor third and a perfect fifth give them a reflective, sometimes sad character that's common in ballads, folk and film scores.
B Minor on piano
To play B Minor on piano, place your right-hand thumb on B, middle finger on D, and little finger on F♯. Press all keys at the same time and listen for a clear, balanced sound. Practice switching to and from this chord slowly, then with a metronome at a comfortable tempo.
B Minor on guitar
Tip: capo on fret 2 and play the A shape
Barre - E shape
On guitar, B Minor is commonly played with the voicing shown above. If the chord contains barred notes, keep your index finger flat across the fretboard and curve the other fingers so they don't mute the open strings. Strum only the strings marked as active in the diagram for the cleanest tone.
Play the chord
B Minor chord notes
| Degree | Interval | Semitones | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Root | 0 | B |
| ♭3 | Minor third | 3 | D |
| 5 | Perfect fifth | 7 | F♯(F#) |
How to use the B Minor chord
The B Minor chord is built from a root, a minor third and a perfect fifth. Starting from the root B, stack the intervals to get the complete chord: B, D and F♯. Learning the formula is the fastest way to transpose the chord to any other key.
Minor chords are everywhere in rock, pop, classical and film music. They often act as the vi chord in major keys or as the i, iv and v in a natural minor key.
Famous Songs in B Minor
These well-known tracks all feature the B Minor chord - a great way to put it in musical context.
- 1WonderwallOasis
- 2DiamondsRihanna
- 3Say SomethingA Great Big World
- 4Hey There DelilahPlain White Ts
- 5Back to DecemberTaylor Swift
Common progressions
The B Minor chord works beautifully in these progressions. Click a chord name to jump to its page.
Scales that contain Bm
These scales include Bm as one of their diatonic chords. Use them to find melodies and improvisation ideas that fit perfectly.
Related chords to B Minor
Once you are comfortable with B Minor, explore neighbouring chords to unlock new progressions. The chords below share notes, keys or functions with B Minor and are a natural next step in your practice.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the B Minor chord?
Is the B Minor chord major or minor?
How do you play B Minor on piano?
How do you play B Minor on guitar?
What chords work well with B Minor?
Keep exploring
Deepen your understanding of the B Minor chord with our other music theory tools.