Bm barre chord, 2nd fret (224432)
- Fingering
- 224432
- Fingers
- 1 1 3 4 2 1
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Position
- barre chord, 2nd fret
Notes in the B minor chord
The Bm chord is made of B · D · F♯. Its formula is 1–♭3–5.
| Note | Degree | Interval from B |
|---|---|---|
| B | 1 | root |
| D | ♭3 | minor third |
| F♯ | 5 | perfect fifth |
How to play the Bm guitar chord
Lay your first finger flat across the 2nd fret. Put your second finger on the 3rd fret of the B string, then your third and fourth fingers side by side on the 4th fret of the D and G strings.
The full shape is 224432, but most players leave the low E string out and strum from the A string (x24432). That puts B, the root, in the bass and gives the first finger one less string to hold down.
Why your Bm chord buzzes or sounds muted
Bm is usually the first barre chord people meet, and the high E string is the one that goes dead. Pull your elbow in toward your body so the first finger rolls onto its harder outer edge, and keep it right behind the fret wire.
If your hand tires within a minute, play the four-string version below while the barre builds up. It is the same chord.
Easy Bm guitar chord
The easy Bm chord is xx4432: the top four strings of the full shape, with the low E and A strings left out. It still contains every note of the chord (B, D and F#), so it is a real Bm, just thinner in the bass.
No barre is needed. Use one fingertip per string.
Bm barre chord
Bm has 2 barre shapes here: 224432 (barre at the 2nd fret) and 799777 (barre at the 7th fret).
A barre shape has no open strings, so it moves. Slide any of them up one fret and you are playing Cm.
Songs that use Bm
- Hotel California (Eagles): Bm F# A E G D Em
- Get Lucky (Daft Punk): Bm D F#m E
- Wicked Game (Chris Isaak): Bm A E
- Hey There Delilah (Plain White T's): D F#m Bm G A
- The Thrill Is Gone (B.B. King): Bm Em F#7
- With or Without You (U2): D A Bm G
Chord names only, as the songs are usually charted for guitar. Recordings may use a capo or another key.
Keys with the Bm chord
Bm is the vi chord in D major, iii chord in G major and ii chord in A major. In minor keys it is the i chord in B minor, v chord in E minor and iv chord in F# minor.
Chords related to Bm
Bm guitar chord questions
How do you play a Bm chord on guitar?
Play 224432, reading from the low E string to the high E string, with a barre at the 2nd fret. An x means the string is not played and a 0 means it rings open. The fingers used are 1 1 3 4 2 1.
What notes are in the Bm chord?
The B minor chord has 3 notes: B, D and F#. Its formula is 1–♭3–5, counted from the B major scale.
Is there an easy way to play Bm?
Yes. Play xx4432, which uses only the top four strings and no full barre. It contains the same notes: B, D and F#.
What keys is the Bm chord in?
Bm is the vi chord in D major, iii chord in G major and ii chord in A major. In minor keys it is the i chord in B minor, v chord in E minor and iv chord in F# minor.
Bm chord diagram to print or save
Printable Bm chord PDF (one letter page, black on white) · Bm chord PNG (1200 px)
