Bm7 Chord (B minor 7th) on Guitar
Bm7 (B minor 7th) is made of the notes B – D – F# – A. The easiest guitar fingering is x2020x (low E to high e; x = muted, 0 = open). It needs only 2 fingers, which makes it a good chord for beginners.
Easiest shape
Alternative shape
How to play Bm7
- Press the 5th string (A) at fret 2 (B).
- Play the 4th string (D) open (D).
- Press the 3rd string (G) at fret 2 (A).
- Play the 2nd string (B) open (B).
- Do not play the 6th string (low E).
- Do not play the 1st string (high e).
| String | Fret | Note | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6th string (low E) | x (mute) | - | |
| 5th string (A) | 2 | B | R |
| 4th string (D) | 0 (open) | D | b3 |
| 3rd string (G) | 2 | A | b7 |
| 2nd string (B) | 0 (open) | B | R |
| 1st string (high e) | x (mute) | - |
What is a B minor 7th chord?
A minor 7th chord is a minor triad with a minor seventh added on top.
Notes and formula. Bm7 contains B, D, F#, A. Counted from the root B, that is R (root), b3 (minor 3rd), 5 (perfect 5th), b7 (minor 7th).
Sound. Mellow, warm and relaxed. It is minor without the sadness of a plain minor triad.
Where it is used. Everywhere in funk, soul, R&B, jazz and lo-fi. It is the ii chord in jazz ii-V-I progressions and a common substitute for the plain minor chord.
Tips for playing Bm7
Many minor 7th shapes are easier than the minor chord itself because they lift a finger. Try swapping Am for Am7 in a song you know.
Common mistake: Treating m7 and maj7 as the same. The "m" means the third is minor; the 7 means the seventh is a minor seventh.
Keys that contain Bm7
Bm7 is a diatonic chord, meaning it occurs naturally without accidentals, in these keys:
- D major – vi chord
- G major – iii chord
- A major – ii chord
- B minor – i chord
- E minor – v chord
- F# minor – iv chord
Try it in a progression: browse chord progressions for every key.
Scales to play over Bm7
Related chords
Bm7 chord FAQ
What notes are in a Bm7 chord?
Bm7 (B minor 7th) contains the notes B, D, F#, A. The formula is R–b3–5–b7 relative to the root B.
How do you play Bm7 on guitar?
The most common shape for Bm7 is x2020x, read from the low E string to the high e string (x = muted, 0 = open, numbers = frets). It needs only 2 fingers, which makes it a good chord for beginners.
Is Bm7 an easy guitar chord?
It is rated beginner. It needs only 2 fingers, which makes it a good chord for beginners.
Which keys contain Bm7?
Bm7 is a diatonic chord in D major (vi), G major (iii), A major (ii), B minor (i), E minor (v), F# minor (iv).
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