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Bm7 Chord

Bm7 combines a minor triad with A, its flat seventh. In a ii-V-I it often starts the journey rather than ending it.

  • Notes: B-D-F sharp-A
  • Symbol: Bm7
  • ii7 in A major
  • Minor third and flat seventh
Switch chordBm7

How to play a Bm7 chord

Notes: B - D - F# - A · symbol Bm7

  • Root position

    B - D - F# - A
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left 5-3-2-1

  • 1st inversion

    D - F# - A - B
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left 5-4-2-1

  • 2nd inversion

    F# - A - B - D
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-2-4-5 · Left 5-3-2-1

  • 3rd inversion

    A - B - D - F#
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-2-4-5 · Left 5-3-2-1

Where does Bm7 belong?

In A major, Bm7 starts as ii7 before the dominant moves toward the tonic.
Play the role cards to hear how its surrounding chords change the job it does; Diatonic Chords explains the basic numbered roles.

  • In A majorThe ii in ii-V-I
    ii7

    The first step of the most common move in jazz, heading to A.

    Bm7ii7E7V7Amaj7Imaj7
  • In D majorThe relative minor
    vi7

    Same notes as D major with a darker center.

    Dmaj7Imaj7Bm7vi7Em7ii7A7V7
  • In B DorianDorian vamp
    i7

    Two chords back and forth: the major IV gives B Dorian its brighter minor sound.

    Bm7i7E7IV7
  • In G majorA soft stand-in
    iii7

    It shares three notes with Gmaj7, so it moves without leaving home.

    Gmaj7Imaj7Bm7iii7Cmaj7IVmaj7

Progressions to try

  • Bm7E7Amaj7

    Bm7 begins a ii-V-I in A major; listen for the move through the dominant to the maj7 arrival.

  • Dmaj7Bm7Em7A7

    Here Bm7 serves as vi7, keeping the phrase moving toward the following minor-seven chord.

  • Bm7E7

    The two-chord Dorian vamp gives Bm7 room to sound like a center without a final cadence.

  • Gmaj7Bm7Cmaj7

    In G major, Bm7 acts as iii7 between the home and IVmaj7 chords.

Which shape should you use?

On guitar, start with x24232, a barre at the 2nd fret. Press the barred notes evenly and mute any strings marked x. The 797777 shape gives you another position when the neighboring chords sit elsewhere on the neck.

On ukulele, start with 2222, played at the 2nd fret. The 7979 grip moves the chord to another register.

On piano, play B-D-F sharp-A. Move B up an octave to reach the first inversion, D-F sharp-A-B; the notes remain the same while the lowest voice changes.

What are the inversions?

B is the root, D the minor third, F sharp the fifth and A the flat seventh.

  • Root position: B-D-F sharp-A, with B lowest.
  • First inversion: D-F sharp-A-B, written Bm7/D if D is lowest in the whole arrangement.
  • Second inversion: F sharp-A-B-D, written Bm7/F# if F sharp is lowest in the whole arrangement.
  • Third inversion: A-B-D-F sharp, written Bm7/A if A is lowest in the whole arrangement.

A slash chord names the note in the bass, not merely the lowest note under one hand. Chord Inversions shows how to read that distinction.

How does Bm7 differ from B7?

Keep B, F sharp and A, then raise the third from D to D sharp. That turns Bm7 into B7; listen to the one moving voice. Try that one-note change on piano, then use the comparer to hear it in the full chord. See B7 for the other chord's full spelling and roles.

  • Bm7

    B - D - F# - A
    C4

    B minor 7

  • B7

    B - D# - F# - A
    C4

    B dominant 7

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