Bm7 Guitar Chord
B Minor 7th · B–D–F#–A
Bm7 is the B minor 7th chord: B–D–F#–A. Its sound is mellow and soulful — softer than a plain minor chord, at home in funk, R&B, and jazz ii–V–I progressions.
Bm7 softens the B minor triad with a ♭7 (A). It's the standard ii chord in A major — the first chord of the ii–V–I, jazz's most important progression — and a staple of funk vamps and R&B ballads.
The most common way to play Bm7 is the am7 shape at the 2nd fret (x 2 4 2 3 2, low E string to high E string). Below you'll find 6 ways to play it across the neck, from open position to barre and shell voicings, with the theory behind the chord and the progressions it lives in.
How to Play Bm7: 6 Voicings
Frets are listed from the low E string to the high E string. x = don't play that string, 0 = open string.
Bm7 Chord Theory
| Interval | R | ♭3 | 5 | ♭7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | B | D | F# | A |
Bm7 is built from the B minor scale.
Bm7 Chord FAQ
What notes are in the Bm7 chord?
Bm7 contains 4 notes: B (R), D (♭3), F# (5), A (♭7). The interval formula for a minor 7th chord is R–♭3–5–♭7.
What is the easiest way to play Bm7 on guitar?
Use the am7 shape at the 2nd fret: x 2 4 2 3 2 (frets listed from the low E string to the high E string, x = don't play that string). Bm7 has no open-position shape in standard tuning, so this movable form is the standard starting point.
Is Bm7 a major or minor chord?
Bm7 is built on a minor triad (B–D–F#) with the ♭7 added, so it behaves as a minor-family chord.
What keys use the Bm7 chord?
Bm7 appears diatonically in D major (as vi), A major (as ii), and G major (as iii) — plus it's the home chord (i) of B minor.
Related Chords
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