Bm7 chord

Bm7 chord for guitar in different forms, including open and barre chords.

Bm7

The diagram shows how the chord is played in open position. Avoid playing the 6th string. Bm7 is a four-note chord consisting of B, D, F#, A.

Alternative shapes

Bm7 barre

Bm7

Bm7 (capo 2)

All chords More B chords

Theory and information

Comments

The alternative version of Bm7 (X2023X) is a B minor 7th with an omitted 5th. It can also be played as X20232.

Notes in the chord

The notes that the Bm7 chord consists of are B, D, F#, A.
To get Bm9 add C#.
To get B7 replace D with D#.

Chord progressions

G - Am7 - Bm7 - C (see with diagrams in PDF)

Examples of progressions featuring Bm7.

Progression 1: Bm7 functions as a vi chord.
D	D/C#	Bm7	Am11

Progression 2: Bm7 in conjunction with Bm/A.
Bm7 X2443X	Bm7/A X0443X	E7 022100	A#dim7 X1202X

Progression 2: The Thrill is Gone - B.B. King.
Bm7	Em7	Bm7	G7	F#7	Bm7

Alternatives with capo

Am7 shape with a capo on 2nd fret (see picture).
Em7 shape with a capo on 7th fret.

Chord names

The Bm7 is a minor 7th chord (a less common abbreviation is Bmin7). Bm7/D, Bm7/F# and Bm7/A are inversions of the chord. Note that Bm7 uses the same shape as D6/B (Bm7 can be seen as a D chord with B in the bass).

Finger position

Index (1st) finger on 5th string, 2nd fret.
Middle (2nd) finger on 3rd string, 2nd fret.
Ring (3rd) finger on 1st string, 2nd fret.

Inversions

1st inversion: Bm7/D (means that D is the bass note).
2nd inversion: Bm7/F# (means that F# is the bass note).
3rd inversion: Bm7/A (means that A is the bass note).
Diagrams of these inversions

Assorted slash chords

Versions with alternate bass notes in short notation:

Bm7/C: X3020X
Bm7/E: 020202
Bm7/G: 300002
Bm7/G#: 424232

Alternative chord names

Bm7/E is identical with Bm11/E.
Bm7/G is identical with Gmaj9.
Bm7/G# is identical with Bm13/G#.

Written in tab format (main version in open position)

- 2 -
- 0 -
- 2 -
- 0 -
- 2 -
- - -

Back to minor 7th chords