How to play the Bm7 chord on guitar
B minor seventh (Bm7) in standard tuning (EADGBE). Play the shape x24232 from the low E string to the high E string. The chord tones are B, D, F#, A, and the lowest sounding note is B.
Fingering chart
| String | Fret | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 6th (low E) | Muted | Not played |
| 5th (A) | 2 | B |
| 4th (D) | 4 | F# |
| 3rd (G) | 2 | A |
| 2nd (B) | 3 | D |
| 1st (high E) | 2 | F# |
Notes and intervals
Formula 1 b3 5 b7. This shape sounds each chord tone.
| Note | Degree | Interval from B | In this shape |
|---|---|---|---|
| B | 1 | Root (0 semitones) | Yes |
| D | b3 | Minor 3rd (3 semitones) | Yes |
| F# | 5 | Perfect 5th (7 semitones) | Yes |
| A | b7 | Minor 7th (10 semitones) | Yes |
Changing chords from Bm7
Bm7 sounds five strings with one string muted: five fretted positions between frets 2 and 4. The quickest changes leave fretted notes where they are, so the hand pivots instead of lifting off the neck. These are the chords in this library that share the most fretted notes with the Bm7 shape.
- Bm7 to Bm: keep four fretted notes in place (5th string fret 2, 4th string fret 4, 2nd string fret 3, 1st string fret 2), one new position to fret.
- Bm7 to D: keep three fretted notes in place (3rd string fret 2, 2nd string fret 3, 1st string fret 2), no new positions to fret.
- Bm7 to B7: keep three fretted notes in place (5th string fret 2, 3rd string fret 2, 1st string fret 2), one new position to fret.
- Bm7 to B: keep three fretted notes in place (5th string fret 2, 4th string fret 4, 1st string fret 2), two new positions to fret.