Chord chart

Bm Chord on Guitar: 3 Easy Ways to Play B Minor (Charts)

Bm chord charts with finger numbers, an easier version, the notes and intervals, and the keys and progressions that use it. Also searched as bm chord, bm guitar chord and how to play Bm.

By David Sandy, guitar player and founder of Sandy Music Lab. Every chord shape on this page is checked note by note against the chord's formula.

Bm chord diagram, Barre (2nd fret, A-string root)Bm Barre (2nd fret, A-string root): low E muted, A fret 2, D fret 4, G fret 4, B fret 3, high e fret 2.×1342x 2 4 4 3 2
Barre (2nd fret, A-string root)
x 2 4 4 3 2
Bm chord diagram, Easy 4-string BmBm Easy 4-string Bm: low E muted, A muted, D fret 4, G fret 4, B fret 3, high e fret 2.××3421x x 4 4 3 2
Easy 4-string Bm
x x 4 4 3 2
Bm chord diagram, Easy 3-string versionBm Easy 3-string version: low E muted, A muted, D muted, G fret 4, B fret 3, high e fret 2.×××321x x x 4 3 2
Easy 3-string version
x x x 4 3 2

Numbers are fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 pinky, T thumb). × = don't play that string, ○ = play it open. A long bar is a barre: one finger flat across those strings. Strings run low E (left) to high e (right).

Chord chart by Sandy Music Lab

Quick answer: To play Bm (B minor) on guitar, play x 2 4 4 3 2 from the low E string to the high e string (the barre (2nd fret, A-string root) shape). The chord contains B, D, F#. If that is hard, use the easier shape x x x 4 3 2, which needs 3 fretted notes.

Bm chord facts

Chord Bm (B minor)
Other names Bmin, B-
Notes B, D, F#
Intervals B (root), D (minor 3rd), F# (perfect 5th)
Formula 1-b3-5
Difficulty Beginner (easy version) to intermediate (full shape)
Shapes on this page 3

How do you play Bm on guitar?

The main shape is x 2 4 4 3 2 (Barre (2nd fret, A-string root)). Finger by finger:

  1. Lay your index finger flat across the A to high e strings at fret 2. This is the barre.
  2. Put your middle finger (2) on the B string at fret 3 (D, the minor 3rd).
  4. Put your ring finger (3) on the D string at fret 4 (F#, the perfect 5th).
  5. Put your pinky (4) on the G string at fret 4 (B, the root).
  7. Don't play the low E string: start your strum on the A string, or touch it lightly to mute.
  8. Strum, then pick each string one at a time and fix any string that buzzes or is silent.

This is a barre chord, so it takes a few weeks to sound clean. Keep the index finger straight and close to the fret wire, pull back gently with the arm rather than squeezing with the thumb, and check each string one at a time. The finger stretching exercises help with the reach.

What is the easiest way to play Bm?

The easier version is x x x 4 3 2 (Easy 3-string version). It keeps the sound of Bm with less effort and no barre.

  1. Put your index finger (1) on the high e string at fret 2 (F#, the perfect 5th).
  3. Put your middle finger (2) on the B string at fret 3 (D, the minor 3rd).
  4. Put your ring finger (3) on the G string at fret 4 (B, the root).
  5. Don't play the low E and A and D strings: start your strum on the G string, or touch them lightly to mute.
  7. Strum, then pick each string one at a time and fix any string that buzzes or is silent.

Another route is a capo: put it on a fret and play an open shape that sounds as Bm. The chord transposer and capo finder works out the shape for you.

What other ways can you play Bm?

  • Easy 4-string Bm: x x 4 4 3 2. Lowest note F#.