Bm7 guitar chord
The B minor 7th chord: every way to play it on the neck, the notes in it, and the scales that sound good over it.
What's in Bm7
- Notes
- B – D – F# – A
- Formula
- 1 – b3 – 5 – b7
- Name
- B minor 7th
Bm7B · D · F# · A
3 ways to play it · Tuning E A D G B E
- A shape · 2nd fret
- E shape · 7th fret
- D shape · 9th fret
What to play over Bm7
Start with the chord's own notes — B, D, F#, A — and land on them on the strong beats. Then reach for a scale; which one depends on the chord's job in the song.
- B Dorian mode
The usual choice over m7, especially a ii7 in a ii–V–I.
- B minor pentatonic scale
The safe start — it holds all four notes of the chord.
- B natural minor scale
The natural minor, when the chord is the home chord (i7).
Questions
What notes are in a Bm7 chord?
Bm7 has 4 notes: B, D, F#, A. Counted from the root, its formula is 1 – b3 – 5 – b7.
What scale goes with Bm7?
B Dorian mode is the place to start. The usual choice over m7, especially a ii7 in a ii–V–I.