
Whether you're a fan of pop, rock, folk, blues, or country, it's worth spending the time to get this chord under your fingers. The Bm chord presents some new challenges for beginners, but it's a required building block on your guitar-playing journey. The benefit to playing this one over the other barred version is this one is far enough up the neck that the frets are a little closer together and the pressure required to press down on all the strings isn't as great, so overall it's physically easier to play.
Bm guitar chord full#
That way you can strum full force without worrying about that low E string changing the sound of the chord.
Bm guitar chord how to#
Here's how to do this: fret the chord so the tip of your index finger touches the side of the low E string just enough to mute it. The tricky part about playing this version is keeping the B note in the bass on the 5th string and muting the low E string. It's the same shape just moved up two frets. If you know how to play an Am in the open position this shape should look familiar. When you hear about the B minor chord, this is the version players typically think of so it should be considered a must-know way to play this chord. Strum five strings down from the A string. - Pinky finger on the 4th fret of the D (4th) string.- Ring finger on the 4th fret of the A (5th) string.- Index finger on the 2nd fret of the A (5th) string.Here is how to play a Bm chord in the second position: For this one you must use one finger to fret multiple strings in what is called a " barre chord." Your index finger rests across every string but the low E. Unlike some other commonly used minor chords (like Em or Am), the B minor chord doesn't use any open strings. This version uses three fingers and is great for beginners. Strum three strings down from the G string. - Index finger on the 2nd fret of the E (1st) string.- Middle finger on the 3rd fret of the B (2nd) string.- Ring finger on the 4th fret of the G (3rd) string.Contemporary examples include " 1,2,3,4" by Plain White T's and " Another Love" by Tom Odell.īefore we work our way up to the commonly used barre chord versions, let's take a look at an easier form that doesn't require laying your index finger across several frets. Rewind to the beach anthem " California Girls" by the Beach Boys or " Daydream Believer" by the Monkees for some pop classics that use the B minor. " Always on My Mind" by Willie Nelson is another chart topper that heavily features this chord.įor something more recent, try " Never Come Back Again" by Austin Plaine. Several country classics use a B minor, including the Grammy-nominated " All My Ex's Live in Texas" by George Strait. What about some punk-ska? Check out " Time Bomb by Rancid. Go back a ways and hear it in " Burning Love" by Elvis Presley. Listen for it in Warrant's glam metal '80s staple, " Heaven", or in one of the biggest power ballads from the '90s, " Love Song by Tesla. The B minor chord can be heard in some of the biggest hits in rock history. How often, you ask? It's everywhere, from classic rock to contemporary pop and everything in between. The other reason to learn this chord is because of how often it's used. Both of which are commonly used in guitar playing. The main reason you need to know how to play the Bm chord is because it shows up constantly in chord progressions that are in the key of D and G. In this article we're going to look at the B minor chord, which you'll see in tab and sheet music abbreviated as "Bm." You will learn why you should know this frequently used chord and how to play the two most commonly used versions, as well as an easy alternative.
