The B minor chord, often abbreviated as “Bm” in guitar tabs and sheet music, is a fundamental chord that every guitarist needs to learn. Understanding and being able to play the Bm chord will significantly expand your musical vocabulary and allow you to play countless popular songs across various genres. This guide will walk you through why the Bm chord is so important, explore common and beginner-friendly ways to play it, and help you add this essential chord to your repertoire.
Why Learn the Bm Chord?
The Bm chord is a cornerstone of guitar playing for a crucial reason: it appears frequently in chord progressions within the keys of D and G major. These two keys are exceptionally common in guitar music across many styles. If you want to play songs in these keys, mastering the Bm chord is not just helpful – it’s essential.
Beyond its theoretical importance, the Bm chord is incredibly prevalent in a vast range of popular music. From classic rock anthems to contemporary pop hits and everything in between, you’ll find the Bm chord making appearances in songs you already know and love. Learning this chord unlocks a massive catalog of songs for you to play.
Bm Chord in Popular Music Genres
To truly appreciate the Bm chord’s ubiquity, let’s explore some examples across different genres:
Rock Songs: Dive into rock history and you’ll hear the Bm chord in iconic tracks like Warrant’s ’80s glam metal hit, “Heaven”, or Tesla’s powerful ’90s ballad, “Love Song”. Even Elvis Presley’s rock and roll classic, “Burning Love”, features this chord. For a punk-ska vibe, listen to “Time Bomb” by Rancid. These examples showcase the Bm chord’s versatility within rock music.
Country Songs: Country music also embraces the Bm chord. George Strait’s Grammy-nominated hit, “All My Ex’s Live in Texas”, and Willie Nelson’s timeless chart-topper, “Always on My Mind”, both heavily utilize this chord. For a more recent country example, check out “Never Come Back Again” by Austin Plaine.
Pop Songs: Pop music history is also filled with Bm chord examples. The Beach Boys’ beach anthem, “California Girls”, and The Monkees’ classic, “Daydream Believer”, both incorporate the Bm chord. Contemporary pop examples include “1,2,3,4” by Plain White T’s and “Another Love” by Tom Odell.
Beginner-Friendly Bm Chord
Many guitarists find the standard Bm barre chord challenging initially. Fortunately, there’s a simpler version perfect for beginners that avoids barring across multiple frets. This version allows you to start playing the Bm chord sooner in your guitar journey.
This beginner-friendly Bm chord is played as follows:
- Ring finger: Place on the 4th fret of the G (3rd) string.
- Middle finger: Place on the 3rd fret of the B (2nd) string.
- Index finger: Place on the 2nd fret of the high E (1st) string.
Strum only the top three strings (G, B, and high E strings) downwards. This three-finger version is an excellent starting point for learning the Bm chord.
This simplified Bm chord version is ideal for beginners, using just three fingers on the fretboard.
The Standard Bm Barre Chord
The most common and widely recognized way to play the Bm chord is as a barre chord. Unlike some minor chords like Em or Am that utilize open strings, the Bm chord in its standard form requires barring. A “barre chord” involves using your index finger to press down multiple strings across a single fret.
Here’s how to play the standard Bm barre chord in the 2nd position:
- Index finger: Barre across all strings (except the low E string) at the 2nd fret. Ensure all strings are pressed down cleanly.
- Middle finger: Place on the 3rd fret of the B (2nd) string.
- Ring finger: Place on the 4th fret of the G (3rd) string.
- Pinky finger: Place on the 4th fret of the D (4th) string.
Strum downwards from the A string (5th string), avoiding the low E string. This five-string version is what most guitarists envision when they think of the Bm chord, making it a must-know for any guitarist.
The most common Bm chord shape is a barre chord, essential for a full and rich sound.
If you’re familiar with the open Am chord shape, you’ll notice the Bm barre chord shape is very similar. It’s essentially the Am shape moved up two frets. The main challenge with this version is ensuring the B note is the bass note (on the 5th string) and muting the low E string.
To mute the low E string, slightly angle your index finger so the tip gently touches the low E string, preventing it from ringing out. This allows you to strum with confidence without the low E string muddying the chord’s sound.
When first learning this barre chord, you might encounter buzzing. This is common and usually resolves with practice as your finger and wrist strength improve, allowing you to fret the strings more cleanly.
Alternative Bm Barre Chord
Having different voicings of the same chord can be musically useful. Another barre chord version of Bm, played higher up the neck in the 7th position, offers a slightly different tonal color and can be physically easier to play for some.
Here’s the 7th position Bm barre chord:
- Index finger: Barre across all strings at the 7th fret.
- Ring finger: Place on the 9th fret of the A (5th) string.
- Pinky finger: Place on the 9th fret of the D (4th) string.
Strum all six strings for this version.
Playing the Bm chord in the 7th position can be physically easier due to narrower fret spacing.
The advantage of this 7th position barre chord is that the frets are closer together higher up the neck. This reduced spacing can make it require less finger pressure to fret all the strings cleanly, potentially making it physically easier to play than the 2nd position barre chord.
Conclusion
The Bm chord, while potentially challenging for beginners initially, is an indispensable chord in your guitar-playing journey. Whether you enjoy pop, rock, folk, blues, or country, dedicating time to mastering the Bm chord is a worthwhile investment. It will unlock a vast repertoire of songs and significantly enhance your guitar skills.
To expand your chord knowledge further, explore a comprehensive guitar chord library and delve into different chord types. Consistent practice and exploration are key to mastering guitar chords and becoming a more versatile player. And if you’re looking for structured guidance and lessons, consider signing up for a free Fender Play trial!
