26 Nov The Bm /Bm7 guitar chord.

    Posted at 13:15h in Barre Chords, Guitar Chords by

    Learn to play the Bm & Bm7 chord on guitar

    Click here for the easiest way to learn the Bm chord keep or reading if you want to learn some useful tips!

    Using the CAGED System, you could play the B Minor chord with the route note starting on either strings 6 5 or 4 using either the D minor/D minor 7, A minor/A minor 7, E minor or E minor 7 chord shape, from the open positions.

    To create a Bm or Bm7 chord on the guitar, you’ll need to either; barre 5 strings with the first finger in position 2, (with the root note on string 5), barre 6 strings in position 7 (with the root note on string 6) or barre 4 strings position 9 (with the root not on string 4). 

    When playing a barre chord, the thumb’s position behind the guitar’s neck is crucial to being able to play all the notes without any buzzes or muted strings involved. 

    How to play a ‘perfect’ barre chord

    My first rule when teaching, is that your thumb needs to be at least half way behind the neck of the guitar which will allow you to move your chord hand in front of the guitar’s neck allowing you to put the pressure on the fret board between the thumb and the index finger. 

    The first finger also needs to be flat against the fretboard or rolled off to the left side if you’re right handed, or right sight if your left handed. The remaining fingers need to be arched over the top of the strings so that you’re using the finger tips and not the finger pads. 

    Once your hand strengthens a straight first finger with arched fingers whilst using the fingertips will allow you to place down the chord and get a clear chord as a result.

    Barre chords can also be formed across strings 6, 5, 4, 3, sets of strings because this is where root note of the chord can start from.

    How to improve your barre chords ‘sound’.

    Is your thumb creeping up behind the neck of the guitar? 

    If so, you might need to keep an eye on it a bit more so that it’s half way or lower. The lower the thumb the easier it is to create a barre chord.

    Is your first finger straight against the fret?

    Practicing getting your first finger into position straight behind the fret is important, that’s the sweet spot to achieve a clear note.

    Are you applying enough pressure on the fretboard?

    When barring, the first finger can take time to achieve power. Consider adjusting the first finger so the knuckle is at it’s strongest point when playing notes on the D or G string.

    • Are you using your finger tips rather than finger pads on the strings?

    Beginners to intermediate guitar players often use their finger pads not their finger tips. Using your finger tips with arched knuckles will allow for more power for clearer notes.

    Are you in the ‘sweet spot’, of the fret to get the cleanest note possible?

    Always try and place your notes from the middle to the edge of the fret – just behind the metal. You might need to play a note in the middle if the fret if other fingers are taking up that space.

    Learning to barre the Bm or Bm7 chord.

    Your hand position will of course change slightly depending on whether you’re starting the Bm or Bm7 chord from the 6th, 5th, or 4th strings.

    The thumbs position on the guitar’s neck is important as this is the muscle that does most of the work allowing you to create the clear notes whilst the fingers which aren’t barring actually needs less pressure than you might think. 

    Using the finger tips is important too. You might well be using the finger tips but are you in the correct spot for your finger tips? Millimetres of movement can make all the difference here, because every body has different hand shapes and sizes.

    The Bm & Bm7 chord on Acoustic Electric or Classical guitar

    The ultimate way to master the Bm & Bm7 chord is to actually practice on a classical guitar. It has the widest neck which will strengthen your chord hand over time whilst having the easiest strings to press down on because classical guitar strings are made from nylon.

    The hard work will pay off when you come to play the same chord on either an electric or acoustic guitar because you’ll find the Bm chord easier to play. When you play a different type of guitar, some adjustments will be needed with your chord hand to suit the instrument.

    The easiest way to play the Bm Chord on the Guitar

    The easiest way to play the Bm chord is on strings 1, fret 2, string 2 fret 3 and string 3 fret 4 with fingers 1 2 3. This Bm chord is a 3 note triad with the root note (b) on string 3 fret 4.

    The notes in a Bm chord for either classical, electric or acoustic are:

    Assuming the root note is on string 5 are: B, F#, B, D, F#.

    Assuming the root note is on string 6 are: B, F#, B, D, F#. B,

    Assuming the root note is on string 4 are : B, F#, B, D

    Assuming the root note is on string 3 are: B, D, F#

    Strengthen those guitar fingers!

    Over time, you’ll develop finger tip lines which will allow you to feel where the correct spot is for your finger tips on your guitar. Each guitar is different to and you might have to adjust accordingly whether you have a skinny neck, or a slightly chunkier guitar neck.

    The sweet spot on the fret is just behind the metal. This allows you to hear a clean note every time. Most chord diagrams are mis leading as they demonstrate that you should place your fingers in the middle of the fret rather than towards the 12th fret.

    You might be thinking; placing a note in the middle of the fret creates a perfectly good sound, but is it reliable? Perhaps not.

    You do not need to keep covering all 6 strings if the root note is from strings 5 or 4. Move the first finger down slightly so that the first finger’s finger tip starts from the start of the chord. 

    You can also get different chord types with the root note being on B in any given position. There’s the major, minor, 7th, diminished, 9th, 13th and suspended’s chord types. 

    Play the minor chord but in different positions

    This animated video will teach you the different note names on the fretboard. By learning where the other notes names are on the same string you can move the same chord shape across the fretboard, creating the same type of chord.

    . Learn more about the CAGED System for guitar, here.

    Learn the root notes by following this video animation

    Learn how to change smoothly between guitar chords

    Download your free chord chart here.

    Learning to change to the Bm & the Bm7 guitar chord can be a tricky one. As with all things guitar it depends what chord shapes you have played and what chord types you’re about to play. How you change to the Bm & Bm7 chord depends on the scenario of the music that you’re learning.

    If you’re playing the same chord type with the root note on the same string can be easy to manoeuvre between frets because the shape of the chord is the same. Changing to the Bm chord is much more challenging if you’re coming from a completely different chord type with the root note on a different string.

    General rules for being able to change chords smoothly is that once you’ve worked out the direction of which your fingers need to travel, is avoid; removing your fingers away from the fretboard entirely and rather brush across the strings in to position. The closer your fingers are to the strings the easier and quicker it will be to change chords.     

    You’ll want to brush your finger tips across the fretboard most of the time even when moving half way down the guitar’s neck if you want to be able to play the guitar accurately and quickly.

    CAGED video course

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    Download your free chord chart here.

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