Bm chord (B minor) on bass
Bm (B minor) has three notes: B, D and F sharp. Its formula is 1, b3, 5. In major keys, Bm is the ii chord in A major, the iii in G major and the vi in D major.
How to play Bm on bass
Low notes close together sound muddy, so bass players spread a chord out and leave notes out. Forms with a 3rd or 7th sound clear from about the E string's 8th fret up, so they start there; root and 5th stays low. These forms put the root on the E string; the same shapes work from the A string.
Fingers: 1 on E, 1 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 1 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 3 on D.
Hear it and see every shape in ScaleSpace →
| Symbol | Bm |
|---|---|
| Also written | Bmin, B- |
| Notes | B D F# |
| Formula | 1 b3 5 |
| Intervals | root, minor third, perfect fifth |
| Type | Minor chord |
Bm across the neck
Bass · 4-string, tuned low to high: E, A, D, G. 24 frets.
- E string: fret 2 F# (5), fret 7 B (1), fret 10 D (flat 3), fret 14 F# (5), fret 19 B (1), fret 22 D (flat 3).
- A string: fret 2 B (1), fret 5 D (flat 3), fret 9 F# (5), fret 14 B (1), fret 17 D (flat 3), fret 21 F# (5).
- D string: fret 0 D (flat 3), fret 4 F# (5), fret 9 B (1), fret 12 D (flat 3), fret 16 F# (5), fret 21 B (1), fret 24 D (flat 3).
- G string: fret 4 B (1), fret 7 D (flat 3), fret 11 F# (5), fret 16 B (1), fret 19 D (flat 3), fret 23 F# (5).
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Questions
What notes are in the Bm chord?
Bm (B minor) has three notes: B, D and F sharp. Its formula is 1, b3, 5. B is the root, D is the minor third and F# is the perfect fifth.
How do you play Bm on bass?
Bass players spread it out rather than strum it. The simplest form is the root and 10th: 1 b10, root on the E string, fret 19. Fingers: 1 on E, 1 on G.
What key is Bm in?
In major keys, Bm is the ii chord in A major, the iii in G major and the vi in D major. It is diatonic to those keys, so it fits songs in any of them.
What is the difference between Bm and B?
Bm has a minor 3rd, D. B major raises it a half step to D#. The root and 5th stay the same.