Piano chords · Minor 7th chord
Bm7 piano chord (B minor seventh)
Bm7 is a minor seventh chord with 4 notes. It sounds mellow and smooth. Here's how to find it, play it and hear it.
B – D – F♯ – A · tap any key to hear it
The notes of Bm7
Bm7 is built from 4 notes (1 – ♭3 – 5 – ♭7):
- B, the root
- D, the minor third
- F♯, the fifth
- A, the minor seventh
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, 2 on D, 3 on F♯, 5 on A.
- Left hand: 5 on B, 3 on D, 2 on F♯, 1 on A.
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♯ – A |
| 1st inversion | D – F♯ – A – B |
| 2nd inversion | F♯ – A – B – D |
| 3rd inversion | A – B – D – F♯ |
Where Bm7 belongs
Bm7 is the ii7 chord in A major, the iii7 chord in G major and the vi7 chord in D major.
Bm7 is Bm with a minor seventh, A, added on top, which softens it from sad to smooth.
Hear it in a progression
Bm7 – E7 – Amaj7: ii – V – I in A major, the backbone of jazz.
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 Bm7 chord?
Bm7 (B minor seventh) is made of B, D, F♯ and A: the root, minor third, fifth and minor seventh.
How do you play Bm7 on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on B, 2 on D, 3 on F♯, 5 on A, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on B, 3 on D, 2 on F♯, 1 on A.
How is Bm7 different from the plain chord?
Bm7 is Bm with a minor seventh, A, added on top, which softens it from sad to smooth.