This article was co-authored by Carlos Alonzo Rivera, MA. Carlos Alonzo Rivera is a guitarist, composer, and educator based in San Francisco, California. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from California State University, Chico, as well as a Master of Music degree in Classical Guitar Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Carlos specializes in the following genres: classical, jazz. rock, metal and blues.
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The B minor guitar chord (Bm chord) is a very useful chord found in a number of songs, but can be a bit difficult for beginners. This is mostly because it requires a barre. In other words, you have to hold down multiple strings with one finger.[1] An easy way to start learning this chord, however, is to simplify or completely remove the barre. We’ll show you three different ways, with barres and sans barres, so that you can start strumming the Bm chord.
Steps
Playing a Bm Chord on 3 Strings (Beginner)
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1Place your first finger. To start this simple version of the Bm chord, put your pointer finger on the first E string at the second fret.[2]
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2Place your second finger. Next, put your middle finger on the second B string at the third fret.[3]Advertisement
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3Place your third finger. Finally, put your ring finger on the third G string at the fourth fret. [4]
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4Leave the fourth D string open.[5]
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5Strum the chord. Starting from the open D string, drag your pick or thumb across the D, G, B, and E strings to play the Bm chord. Do not include the sixth E nor the fifth A string.[6]
Playing a Bm Chord on 5 Strings (Intermediate)
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1Barre your first finger. A “barre” is when you use the same fingering across more than one string.[7]
- In this intermediate version of the chord, start by placing your first finger on the fifth A string at the second fret.
- Press it down it flat across to the first E string.
- All five strings should now be pressed down at the second fret.
EXPERT TIPCarlos Alonzo Rivera is a guitarist, composer, and educator based in San Francisco, California. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from California State University, Chico, as well as a Master of Music degree in Classical Guitar Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Carlos specializes in the following genres: classical, jazz. rock, metal and blues.Professional Guitarist
Carlos Alonzo Rivera, MA
Professional GuitaristOur Expert Agrees: To bar with your index finger, you want to press the finger as close to the metal fret as possible and curve the other fingers like the letter C.
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2Place your second finger. Just as the previous method, put your second finger on the second B string at the third fret.[8]
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3Place your third finger. This is different from the previous method in that you put your third finger on the fourth D string at the fourth fret. [9]
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4Place your fourth finger. You’re actually going to put your fourth pinky finger on the third G string at the fourth fret, right next to your third finger.[10]
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5Strum the chord. For this intermediate version, you’re not going to play the sixth E string. Instead, start your pick or thumb on the fifth string and strum through to the first to play the chord. Do not include the sixth E string.[11]
Playing a Bm Chord on 6 Strings (Advanced)
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1Barre your first finger. This time, extend your first finger across all six strings.[12]
- Start by placing your first finger on the sixth E string at the second fret.
- Press it down it flat across all the strings to the first E string.
- All six strings should now be pressed down at the second fret.
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2Place your second finger. Just as the previous methods, put your second finger on the second B string at the third fret.[13]
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3Place your third finger. Similar to intermediate method, put your third finger on the fourth D string at the fourth fret.[14]
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4Place your fourth finger. Finally, put your fourth finger on the third G string at the fourth fret, right next to your third finger.[15]
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5Strum the chord. For this full version, you’re going to play all six strings, so go ahead and strum all the way through.[16]
Community Q&A
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QuestionIsn't the simplest guitar chord Em or A7?
Community AnswerEm7 is the simplest chord, it's 1 finger on second fret of the fifth string. -
QuestionWhat are ways to play F?
George MalenCommunity AnswerYou can either play it with a barre on the first fret, or only strumming the F on the 4th string, the A on the third string and the C on the 2nd string and the E on the first string. -
QuestionShould I use a pick?Community AnswerIt's a matter of personal preference whether or not you use a pick.
Warnings
- Be careful not to slide your fingers too hard and too fast with any chord, because you might burn them.⧼thumbs_response⧽
References
- ↑ http://www.tomasmichaud.com/easy-bm-chord-update-8/
- ↑ http://www.tomasmichaud.com/easy-bm-chord-update-8/
- ↑ http://www.tomasmichaud.com/easy-bm-chord-update-8/
- ↑ http://www.tomasmichaud.com/easy-bm-chord-update-8/
- ↑ http://www.tomasmichaud.com/easy-bm-chord-update-8/
- ↑ http://www.tomasmichaud.com/easy-bm-chord-update-8/
- ↑ http://www.8notes.com/guitar_chord_chart/bm.asp
- ↑ http://www.8notes.com/guitar_chord_chart/bm.asp
- ↑ http://www.8notes.com/guitar_chord_chart/bm.asp
- ↑ http://www.8notes.com/guitar_chord_chart/bm.asp
- ↑ http://www.8notes.com/guitar_chord_chart/bm.asp
- ↑ http://www.8notes.com/guitar_chord_chart/bm.asp
- ↑ http://www.8notes.com/guitar_chord_chart/bm.asp
- ↑ http://www.8notes.com/guitar_chord_chart/bm.asp
- ↑ http://www.8notes.com/guitar_chord_chart/bm.asp
- ↑ http://www.8notes.com/guitar_chord_chart/bm.asp
- ↑ http://www.tomasmichaud.com/easy-bm-chord-update-8/
About This Article
To play the B minor chord on the guitar, place your index finger on second fret pressing down the first E string, or the string closest to the floor. Put your middle finger on the second string from the bottom, the B string, at the third fret, and place your ring finger on the G string, or the third string from the bottom, at the fourth fret. Strum the bottom four strings to play the B minor chord. To learn how to play the B minor chord on 5 strings, keep reading!
