Piano chord
Bm7B minor seventh
- B1
- D♭3
- F♯5
- A♭7
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 10semitones
- Fingers
- 1-2-4-5
How to play Bm7 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 A.
- Or with the left hand: 5 on B, 4 on D, 2 on F♯, 1 on A.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · B – D – F♯ – A
1st inversion · D – F♯ – A – B
2nd inversion · F♯ – A – B – D
3rd inversion · A – B – D – F♯
Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.
Bm7 inversions
Use these 4 positions to move between chords with as little hand movement as possible. Root position starts on B; the inversions start on the other notes of the chord.
- 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 5-3-2-1
- 3rd inversionbass: ARight hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-3-1
Chords that go with Bm7
The other chords of B minor, the key where Bm7 is home (i7). Songs in this key move between them.
Bm7 with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays B an octave lower, the right hand plays B–D–F♯–A.
Bm7 on other instruments
About the Bm7 chord
To build B minor seventh, take these 4 notes from the root up: B (1), D (♭3), F♯ (5), A (♭7). A minor seventh: a minor triad with the flat seventh. Softer than a plain minor chord, it is the ii chord of jazz and a favourite in R&B.
The keys are B – D – F♯ – A, counted up from B; the distance from the lowest to the highest key is 10 semitones. Any hand that reaches an octave can hold Bm7, so it works in either hand.
In the inversions of Bm7 the root moves up and another note takes the bass. In the 1st inversion the bass is D (D–F♯–A–B). In the 2nd inversion the bass is F♯ (F♯–A–B–D). In the 3rd inversion the bass is A (A–B–D–F♯).
Compared with Bm, Bm7 has one more note, A.
You meet Bm7 in these keys: G major (iii7), D major (vi7), A major (ii7), E minor (v7), B minor (i7).
Questions
What notes are in the Bm7 chord?
Bm7 (B minor seventh) has 4 notes: B (1), D (♭3), F♯ (5), A (♭7).
How many inversions does Bm7 have?
Bm7 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (B–D–F♯–A); 1st inversion (D–F♯–A–B); 2nd inversion (F♯–A–B–D); 3rd inversion (A–B–D–F♯).
What is the difference between Bm7 and Bm?
Compared with Bm, Bm7 has one more note, A.
Can I play Bm7 with one hand?
Yes. In root position Bm7 spans 10 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.