How to play the Bm chord: easy, medium and hard | Guitars hq for beginners (2023)

The Bm chord is one of those chords that scared me a bit at first. At that time I only knew the open chord and the barre chord on the seventh fret. When I first learned to play barre chords, I could only play barre chords and only open barre chords. For me there was no mix.

Since then, with regular exercise, these problems are a thing of the past. Now I know other ways to play the Bm guitar chord and I use the one that matches what I want to play that day.

I will share these chords with you. With regular practice, you will become good at playing them and it will feel natural. You'll also likely find out which version is your favorite and best suits you, and what genre or song is currently playing.

bm chord theory

Written in letters as a triad, the Bm chord looks like this: B D F#. These are the notes you will play on the guitar to form the chord.

It is a minor chord because the third interval has been flattened. B major is written as B D# F#.

The intervals are the degrees of the scale. From one perspective, this is the Bb major scale:

B C# D# E F# G# A#

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

This is the B natural minor scale:

si do# re mi fa# sol la

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

I say natural scale because there are some types ofminor scale, including theharmonic minor scale, the melodic minor scale and the minor pentatonic scale. The natural minor scale reflects the actual key of B minor.

You can tell the key by how many sharps (#) or flats (♭) there are. B minor has two sharps, F# and C#. An easy way to see this is to useCircle of Quintessence.

How to Play the B Minor Guitar Chord: Easy

If you're just starting out or your nerves get the best of you, using one of the simple versions works well. I still use version 1 from time to time after all these years.

Bm-Version 1

This version only requires three strings, which must be played with the fingering and fingering/strumming hands. It doesn't sound too full as it lacks bass, but it's still a great chord, especially for strumming. When you strum or strum the 4th string you get a little more depth thanks to that extra D.

How to play Bm version 1:

• Indicator finger:1st string, 2nd fret (makes an F#)
• middle finger:2nd string, 3rd fret (makes a D)
• ring finger:3rd string, 4th fret (this makes B flat)

Bm-Version 2

This version is played on the seventh fret, and you should stick to the bottom three strings unless you want to play a Bm7 chord. While that's not bad and adds a bit of flavor, if you just want a Bm chord then you should stick to those three strings.

You can also wrap your hand so that your thumb presses the Bb on the low E string. This can add a lot of flavor, allowing you to strum or play that B note before playing the rest of the chord.

This chord is higher in pitch and has a nice, light, slightly jazzy sound that wouldn't be out of place in island music, sunny or not. Although minor chords are considered sad, I really like this version.

How to play Bm version 2:

The easiest way to play this chord is to simply bend these three strings to the seventh with your index finger.

This is also the best way to play it when you want to thumb the B of the 6th string on the same fret.

It will probably hurt a bit when you play it the first few times. But practice regularly to develop those calluses on the bottom of your finger.

If you have trouble tensing these strings, you can also play them with three fingers as if you were playing open air.a chord.

Bm-Version 3

This shape is a simplified version of the E-shaped barre chord on the seventh fret. It can be a bit more difficult since you're only playing strings 1-4, but ultimately it's very easy to play once you get the hang of it.

How to play Bm version 3:

• Indicator finger:Stabbund 7, Saiten 1-3
• ring finger:4th chord, 9th fret

How to Play the B Minor Guitar Chord: Intermediate

These versions are a bit heavier in their own way, but offer a fuller sound.

Bm-Version 4

This chord may be easy on the first try for some, but a bit more difficult for others. It can be awkward to get your fingers into this formation quickly. Not to mention you only play strings 2-5. I think this works well with fingerpicking. But your hands will know where to gotearwith practice if you prefer to strum with a pick or with your ownFinger.

But if you like the sound, practice it regularly and you'll master it in no time.

How to play Bm version 4:

• Indicator finger:5th string, 2nd fret
• middle finger:2nd string, 3rd fret
• ring finger:4th string, 4th fret
• Pinky:3rd string, 4th fret

Bm-Version 5

This chord is actually the first chord that most students learn. Although I had no formal guitar training, I learned from books. For a long time, this was the only version I knew of, apart from the E-shaped barre chord.

The form is a bit more difficult to play, but you'll get there with constant practice if you struggle at first. You add your little finger to the version 1 shape. You get an extra F# on the D string (4th string).

How to play Bm version 5:

• Indicator finger:1st string, 2nd fret
• middle finger:2nd string, 3rd fret
• ring finger:4th string, 4th fret
• Pinky:3rd string, 4th fret

Just play those four strings.

Bm-Version 6

This is a barre chord that can be difficult to play at first. But regular practice will increase the strength of your hand. Barre chords, when played correctly, provide a nice full sound.

Essentially, you're using the A-shaped barre chord with the tonic on the fifth string. But instead of the A shape with the barre giving you a major chord, play it like the E shape.

I set this to Medium because it's the easiest barre chord to play. This format facilitates the correct sound of all the strings.

How to play Bm version 6:

• Indicator finger:Fret two, strings 1-5. It's okay if you block all 6 strings and strum them too. You get an F# on the 6th string.
• middle finger:2nd string, 3rd fret
• ring finger:4th string, 4th fret
• Pinky:3rd string, 4th fret

Bm-Version 7

This chord shape uses the Gm shape and you can change it up and down with the root note on the 6th string. It can be a bit more difficult to play as it only plays strings 3-6. However, you can mute the bottom two strings with your index finger if necessary.

How to play Bm version 7:

• Indicator finger:String bar 3 and 4 on the fourth fret
• middle finger:5th string, 5th fret
• Ring finger or little finger:6th string, 7th fret

Bm-Version 8

This barre chord uses the tonic on the sixth string and uses the Em form. At first it can be difficult to get all the strings to sound clear. But this will resolve itself once you build up your strength or, if you have smaller hands, learn to place your fingers in the correct position. You can support the index finger with the middle finger.

How to play Bm version 8:

• Indicator finger:Stabbund 7, Saiten 1-6
• ring finger:5th string, 4th fret
• Pinky:4th string, 4th fret

How to Play the B Minor Guitar Chord: Difficult

These forms require more practice to master.

Bm-Version 9

This is a little harder to play, but it sounds beautiful. It's a higher voice because you're only playing strings 1-4 and it's played higher up the neck. Technically, this form is the Dm form inSistema CAGED. You can change it by using the root note on the 4th string.

How to play Bm version 9:

• Indicator finger:4th string, 9th fret (tonic)
• middle finger:1st string, 10th fret
• ring finger:3rd string, 11th fret
• Pinky:2nd string, 12th fret

Bm-Version 10

This chord can be quite tricky if you're not used to playing the lower frets of the fingerboard, especially if you have longer fingers. But if you're looking for a higher register, this Bm chord is worth learning.

How to play Bm version 10:

• Indicator finger:3rd string, 11th fret
• middle finger:4th string, 12th fret
• ring finger:2nd string, 12th fret
• Pinky:1st string, 14th fret

Diploma

Bm is a major chord. It often appears in the keys of G and D, which are popular keys. So learning to play will definitely give you access to more music, especially if you don't want to play capo.

If you feel a bit intimidated by this chord, remember that this can be remedied with practice. It may take a while, but you will get there. You don't have to learn the more difficult versions unless you like the way they sound. You can stick with the simpler versions as long as they meet your needs.

Have fun practicing and when you get used to it, improvise too!