Bm7 Piano Chord

Bm7 is the B minor seventh chord. It has four notes: B, D, F sharp and A. Only the F sharp is a black key.

1B2D3F♯5AC3C4

B at the bottom, then D and F♯ and A. Right hand 1-2-3-5, left hand 5-3-2-1. The black key is F♯.

How to play Bm7 on piano, step by step

  1. Start on the B below middle C. That is the lowest note of the chord.
  2. Thumb (1): B
  3. Index finger (2): D
  4. Middle finger (3): F♯
  5. Little finger (5): A
  6. Press them together with the right hand. The left hand plays the same notes with fingers 5, 3, 2, 1 an octave lower, or just B on its own as a bass note.

Compared with B minor, this chord adds an A on top and is easier to balance: the extra note gives the hand a fourth point of contact and steadies it.

Inversions of Bm7

The same 4 notes with a different one at the bottom. All of them are Bm7; which you play depends on what the hand is coming from. Tap any card to hear it.

First inversionD F♯ A B
Bm7 piano chord diagram, first inversion, D F♯ A B
Lighter than root position and less final. A flat third in the bass tips the chord forward, which is why it usually sits between two other chords rather than at the end of a line.
Second inversionF♯ A B D
Bm7 piano chord diagram, second inversion, F♯ A B D
Open and slightly unresolved. A fifth in the bass makes the chord sound like a step on the way somewhere, which is mostly how it is used.
Third inversionA B D F♯
Bm7 piano chord diagram, third inversion, A B D F♯
The most restless of the four. The seventh is the note that wants to move, and putting it underneath the whole chord makes that pull impossible to miss.

If it sounds wrong

The third note is F natural
It has to be F sharp, the black key to its right. F natural would give a diminished sound rather than a minor one.
The middle finger is buried
It sits on the black F sharp while the fingers either side are on white keys. Move the hand forward into the keyboard so it can reach without dragging.
The top note is A sharp
It has to be A natural: the flat seventh is what makes this a minor seventh.

What makes it a Bm7

B · D · F♯ · A 1 ♭3 5 ♭7

Bm7 is a B minor triad, B D F sharp, with an A added: the flat seventh.

It is the ii chord of A and the vi of D. Both are common guitar keys, so this chord turns up often when a pianist plays with a guitarist.

Bm7 vs Bm

Bm7 is B minor with an A on top. The added note softens the chord and makes it easier to play, since the hand has a fourth finger to steady itself on.

In pop the two are usually interchangeable. In jazz the seventh is expected.

Questions about Bm7

Which notes are in a Bm7 chord on piano?

B, D, F sharp and A. F sharp is the black key; the rest are white.

What fingers do you use for Bm7?

Right hand: thumb on B, index on D, middle on F sharp, little finger on A. Left hand: 5, 3, 2, 1.

What is the difference between Bm7 and B7?

The second note. Bm7 has D and sounds soft; B7 has D sharp and drives toward E.

Where is the Bm7 chord used?

As the ii chord in A and the vi in D. It is common in guitar based pop and folk.

Is Bm7 hard to play?

No. One black key in the middle, and the four note shape is actually steadier under the hand than the triad.

Chords to learn next

Other B chords