Piano chord
Bm6B minor sixth
- B1
- D♭3
- F♯5
- G♯6
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 9semitones
- Fingers
- 1-2-4-5
How to play Bm6 on piano
- Find B: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Right hand: 1 on B, 2 on D, 4 on F♯, 5 on G♯.
- Or with the left hand: 5 on B, 4 on D, 2 on F♯, 1 on G♯.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · B – D – F♯ – G♯
1st inversion · D – F♯ – G♯ – B
2nd inversion · F♯ – G♯ – B – D
3rd inversion · G♯ – B – D – F♯
Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.
Bm6 inversions
Here are all 4 positions of Bm6. The notes stay the same, only their order changes: root position has B at the bottom, and every inversion starts on the next chord tone.
- Root positionbass: BRight hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
- 1st inversionbass: DRight hand 1-3-4-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 2nd inversionbass: F♯Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
- 3rd inversionbass: G♯Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-3-1
Bm6 with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays B an octave lower, the right hand plays B–D–F♯–G♯.
Bm6 on other instruments
About the Bm6 chord
The 4 notes of B minor sixth are B (1), D (♭3), F♯ (5), G♯ (6). A minor sixth: a minor triad plus the major sixth. Dark and mysterious, common in jazz, tango and film music.
Put your thumb on B and count up: B – D – F♯ – G♯. The whole chord spans 9 semitones from bottom to top. That fits inside an octave, so one hand covers Bm6 without stretching.
The inversions of Bm6 keep the same notes in a new order. In the 1st inversion the bass is D (D–F♯–G♯–B). In the 2nd inversion the bass is F♯ (F♯–G♯–B–D). In the 3rd inversion the bass is G♯ (G♯–B–D–F♯).
Add G♯ to Bm and you have Bm6.
Questions
What notes are in the Bm6 chord?
Bm6 (B minor sixth) has 4 notes: B (1), D (♭3), F♯ (5), G♯ (6).
How many inversions does Bm6 have?
Bm6 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (B–D–F♯–G♯); 1st inversion (D–F♯–G♯–B); 2nd inversion (F♯–G♯–B–D); 3rd inversion (G♯–B–D–F♯).
What is the difference between Bm6 and Bm?
Add G♯ to Bm and you have Bm6.
Can I play Bm6 with one hand?
Yes. In root position Bm6 spans 9 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.