Sowlea

Bm chord on guitar: fingering and notes

Bm is a minor chord made of B, D and F♯. This shape uses 5 strings, with the index finger barring fret 2.

×13421EADGBE
Read the diagram as if the guitar stands in front of you: thickest string on the left, the nut at the top. Numbers are fingers (1 index … 4 little), ○ means play the string open, × means don’t play it.

Where each finger goes

  1. Lay your index finger flat across strings 5–1 at fret 2, close to the fret wire.
  2. Ring finger on string 4 (D), fret 4.
  3. Little finger on string 3 (G), fret 4.
  4. Middle finger on string 2 (B), fret 3.
  5. Don’t play string 6 (low E): start your strum on string 5 (A).

Notes in the chord

Formula: 1 – ♭3 – 5

StringFretNoteInterval
string 5 (A)2Broot
string 4 (D)4F♯perfect fifth
string 3 (G)4Broot
string 2 (B)3Dminor third
string 1 (high E)2F♯perfect fifth

Easier version while you build the barre: play only strings 4–1, shape x x 4 4 3 2.

Check that every string rings

  1. Pick the strings one at a time from string 5 (A) to string 1. Every note should ring for about a second without buzzing or going dull.
  2. A dull or muted note usually means a fingertip is leaning on the next string: arch the finger so only the tip touches.
  3. A buzzing note usually means the finger is too far from the fret wire: slide it closer without pressing harder.
  4. For the barre, roll the index finger slightly onto its bony side and keep the thumb behind the neck; press only as hard as needed for the barred strings to ring.
  5. Strings you don’t play should stay silent: aim the strum, or touch them lightly with a free finger.

Practise: change between Bm and G

  1. Set the metronome to 60 BPM in 4/4 (the button below applies these settings).
  2. Strum Bm once on beat 1 and let it ring through beats 2, 3 and 4.
  3. During beat 4, lift your fingers and move to G so it sounds exactly on the next beat 1.
  4. Keep alternating Bm and G for eight bars. When three changes in a row land on the beat with every string ringing, raise the tempo by 5 BPM.

What to listen for: the new chord starts on the click of beat 1, not after it, and no string goes silent during the change.

Practise at 60 BPM

Where this chord is used

  • In G major it is the iii chord.
  • In D major it is the vi chord.
  • In A major it is the ii chord.
  • In E minor it is the v chord.
  • In B minor it is the i chord.
  • In F♯ minor it is the iv chord.

Further reading

Fingerings and explanations by Sowlea. Each shape is checked automatically: the notes it sounds in standard tuning must be exactly the notes of the chord.