Bm Chord
How to play B minor on guitar — darker and more reflective than major; the 3rd drops a semitone.
- Notes
- B – D – F♯
- Frets (low → high)
- x 2 4 4 3 2
- Difficulty
- Barre chord
- Shape
- Barre at fret 2
How to play Bm, step by step
- 1Lay your index finger flat across the 5 strings from the A down to the high E at the 2nd fret — this is the barre, and it works like a movable nut.
- 2Put your ring finger on the 4th fret of the D string (4th).
- 3Put your little finger on the 4th fret of the G string (3rd).
- 4Put your middle finger on the 3rd fret of the B string (2nd).
- 5Leave the low E string out — mute it with the side of a finger, or just avoid it as you strum.
- 6Strum slowly and check every string sounds cleanly; if one buzzes, press closer to the fret wire and arch your fingers so they clear the neighbouring strings.
An easier way to play Bm
Bm normally needs a barre, which is the single most common place beginners stall. A capo removes it entirely.
Put a capo on fret 2 and play an open Am shape. The capo raises every string by 2 semitones, so what your hand fingers as Am comes out of the guitar as Bm — the same chord, none of the strain.
What makes a minor chord
Darker and more reflective than major; the 3rd drops a semitone.
| Note | Interval | Semitones above B |
|---|---|---|
| B | root | 0 |
| D | minor 3rd | 3 |
| F♯ | 5th | 7 |
Which keys use Bm?
Bm appears in these keys, so a song built on it is most likely in one of them. Each page shows the full chord set and the easiest capo position.
Other B chords
Same root, different colour. Swapping one of these into a progression is the quickest way to change its mood without changing the key.
Every minor chord
The same shape moved around the neck. If you can play Bm you are a fret-slide away from all of these.
Frequently asked questions
- What notes are in the Bm chord?
- Bm is made of B, D, F♯ — the root, minor 3rd, 5th of B.
- Is Bm hard to play?
- Bm is usually played as a barre chord at the 2nd fret, which takes some hand strength. An easier route is a capo on fret 2 and the open Am shape — it sounds identical.
- How do I play Bm without a barre?
- Put a capo on fret 2 and play the open Am shape. The capo raises every string by 2 semitones, so the shape sounds as Bm while your hand does far less work.
Got a chart full of chords like Bm?
Upload a chord sheet and move every chord into a key that fits your hands and your voice — the layout stays exactly as printed. Or let the capo calculator pick the position that turns the barre chords into open ones.