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B Minor 7th Guitar Chord (Bm7)

B minor 7th is a four-note chord built from B (the root), D (the minor third), F♯ (the perfect fifth), and A (the minor seventh). It feels cool and conversational rather than dramatic. As the ii chord in a ii–V–I, it is one of the most-played chords in all of jazz. Below are 4 ways to play it in standard tuning, easiest shape first.

Bm7 chord shapes — standard tuning

open string × muted / not played 1–4 suggested finger 3fr shape starts at fret 3 R · 3 · 5 · ♭7 chord tone each string sounds
Bm7 guitar chord diagram, Open position, frets x-2-0-2-0-2×1R♭32♭7R35
Open position
x-2-0-2-0-2
Bm7 guitar chord diagram, 4fr, frets 7-5-7-4-x-x4fr3R2♭34♭71R××
4fr
7-5-7-4-x-x
Bm7 guitar chord diagram, Barre · 7fr, frets 7-9-7-7-7-77fr1R25♭7♭35R
Barre · 7fr
7-9-7-7-7-7
Bm7 guitar chord diagram, 9fr, frets x-x-9-11-10-109fr××1R452♭73♭3
9fr
x-x-9-11-10-10

How to play it

Place your index finger on the A (5th) string at fret 2, your middle finger on the G (3rd) string at fret 2, and your ring finger on the high E (1st) string at fret 2. Let the D (4th) and B (2nd) strings ring open. Keep the low E (6th) string out of the strum — start your downstroke from the A (5th) string.

Once that shape is comfortable, try the other 3 voicings above — same notes, different neck positions and textures.

Notes in this chord

SymbolIntervalNote
RrootB
♭3minor thirdD
5perfect fifthF♯
♭7minor seventhA

Bm7 FAQ

What notes are in Bm7?
Bm7 contains B, D, F♯, and A — the root (B), the minor third, the perfect fifth, and the minor seventh.

Is Bm7 a barre chord?
Not necessarily. The easiest Bm7 shape (x-2-0-2-0-2) needs no barre — it uses 3 fingers plus open strings. Barre versions exist too, starting at fret 7, and are handy when you want to move the same grip to other keys.

What is the easiest way to play Bm7 on guitar?
Start with the open position shape x-2-0-2-0-2. Place your index finger on the A (5th) string at fret 2, your middle finger on the G (3rd) string at fret 2, and your ring finger on the high E (1st) string at fret 2. Let the D (4th) and B (2nd) strings ring open. Keep the low E (6th) string out of the strum — start your downstroke from the A (5th) string.