B minor guitar chord
A five-string barre chord at the second fret. Bm is the relative minor of D major and a common gatekeeper for barre-chord technique.
Play it
Two ways to finger Bm
Acoustic samples load on first play; a synth preview is used if they are still loading. Best with headphones.
Bm barre (2nd fret)
Start here
Bm barre (7th fret)
Same chord, higher up the neck
Finger numbers are shown inside the dots. An X means “do not play this string”; an open circle means the string rings open. Audio uses acoustic guitar samples, with a synthesized fallback.
How to play Bm
B minor is a five-string barre chord at the 2nd fret. It is the relative minor of D major and a common gatekeeper for barre-chord technique.
The Bm barre shape uses the index finger across the A, D, G, B, and high E strings at the 2nd fret. The low E is muted. The ring finger adds F♯ on the D string, the pinky adds B on the G string, and the middle finger adds D on the B string.
Bm is the vi chord in D major and the home chord in B minor. It appears in the Bm–G–D–A progression and in many songs in D major.
Fingering steps
- Place your index finger across the A, D, G, B, and high E strings at the 2nd fret. Keep the low E muted.
- Put your middle finger on the 3rd fret of the B string.
- Place your ring finger on the 4th fret of the D string and your pinky on the 4th fret of the G string.
- Strum from the A string down and check each string.
Why it sounds bad (and how to fix it)
The low E rings
Bm does not use the low E. Mute it with the side of your index finger or start your strum on the A string.
The high E is muted
The index barre must cover the high E at the 2nd fret. Check it separately and adjust the barre.
The ring and pinky are muted
Keep the fingers curved and close to the frets. The 4th fret is where the shape gets crowded: the ring and pinky have to sit side by side without leaning on the barre.
Practice drill
- Practice the Bm barre alone, then add the middle, ring, and pinky fingers one at a time.
- Play Bm–G–D–A slowly, checking the high E string on every Bm.
Use it in a progression
- Bm – G – D – A (vi–IV–I–V in D)
- Bm – A – G – D
FAQ
Is Bm harder than F?
It depends on your hand. Bm sits near the nut and uses a five-string barre, so the index finger never has to clear the low E. That is why many players find it easier than the six-string F barre.
Why does my Bm sound muted?
The index barre may not be covering the high E, or the ring and pinky fingers may be touching adjacent strings. Check each string individually.
Can I play Bm without a barre?
There are easier partial shapes, but the barre version is the most useful. Learn the barre first, then explore alternatives.
This page uses standard chord voicings. If a fingering still buzzes, the problem is usually the hand position, not the diagram.