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B minor chord

B minor Minor family

Darker and more personal. Sad, or just thoughtful.

Easiest shape1 of 6

Square: the root. In colour: the minor 3rd, which gives the chord its sound.

Change a finger and see what it becomes

Built from

Broot
Dminor 3rd
F♯5th

Lowering the 3rd by one fret is the only difference from major, and it changes the whole mood.

Tension: At rest

Hear it in a progression

Epic minor
Film scores and stadium anthems. In B minor.
Capo and transpose
1. Bmi
2. GVI
3. DIII
4. AVII
Minor cadence
Dark, then a strong pull home. In B minor.
Capo and transpose
1. Bmi
2. Emiv
3. F♯7V7
4. Bmi
Andalusian cadence
Flamenco and surf rock, stepping down. In B minor.
Capo and transpose
1. Bmi
2. AVII
3. GVI
4. F♯V

Where it goes next

Thinking in B minor, where it is the i chord.

G
VI. Opens up into something bittersweet.
Em
iv. Goes darker still.
A
VII. Steps down: a rock and folk staple.
D
III. Brightens into the relative major.

Sounds close

Gmaj7
Shares 3 of its notes. Both have B, D and F♯.
D
Its relative major: same key, brighter. Both have D and F♯.
G
Shares 2 of its notes. Both have B and D.
D7
Shares 2 of its notes. Both have D and F♯.

Scales that fit

Notes you can play over this chord, simplest first.

Keys it lives in