Piano chords · Minor chord
Bm piano chord (B minor)
Bm is a minor chord with 3 notes. It sounds darker, more wistful. Here's how to find it, play it and hear it.
B – D – F♯ · tap any key to hear it
The notes of Bm
Bm is built from 3 notes (1 – ♭3 – 5):
- B, the root
- D, the minor third
- F♯, the fifth
F♯ is a black key, so keep your hand slightly further in, towards the fallboard, to reach it without stretching.
Fingering
- Right hand: 1 on B, 3 on D, 5 on F♯.
- Left hand: 5 on B, 3 on D, 1 on F♯.
Press every key at exactly the same moment, with the same weight. If one note sounds louder or a fraction late, the chord sounds uneven: play it slowly and listen for one sound.
Inversions
An inversion is the same notes in a different order, with a different note at the bottom. Inversions let you move between chords without jumping around the keyboard.
| Position | Notes, bottom to top |
|---|---|
| Root position | B – D – F♯ |
| 1st inversion | D – F♯ – B |
| 2nd inversion | F♯ – B – D |
Where Bm belongs
Bm is the ii chord in A major, the iii chord in G major and the vi chord in D major, and the home chord of B minor. Its relative major is D, which shares two of its notes.
B is the same chord with the middle note a half step higher (D becomes D♯), which turns it from dark to bright.
Hear it in a progression
Bm – G – D – A: i – VI – III – VII, a classic minor-key progression.
Playing it, but it doesn't sound right? Ivory listens to you play and tells you what's off: a note that's missing, a hand that lands late, a chord that's uneven. Then it shows you how it should go.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the Bm chord?
Bm (B minor) is made of B, D and F♯: the root, minor third and fifth.
How do you play Bm on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on B, 3 on D, 5 on F♯, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on B, 3 on D, 1 on F♯.
What's the difference between Bm and B?
B is the same chord with the middle note a half step higher (D becomes D♯), which turns it from dark to bright.