Bm7 chord on guitar

Bm7 is B, D, F♯ and A. The easiest shape is x-2-0-2-0-2. Press Play to hear it, then try it at half speed.

x-2-0-2-0-2 · open · easy

Notes: B · D · F♯ · A
Formula: 1 · ♭3 · 5 · ♭7
First shape: x-2-0-2-0-2

How to play Bm7 on guitar

Shape 1, x-2-0-2-0-2, reading from the low E string on the left:

Index finger: A string, 2nd fret (B).
Middle finger: G string, 2nd fret (A).
Ring finger: high E string, 2nd fret (F♯).
Let the open D and B strings ring (D and B).
Don't play the low E string: start your strum on the A string.

If an open string sounds dead, a fingertip is leaning on it. Come down more on the tips, with your knuckles bent.

Other ways to play Bm7

7-9-7-7-7-7: barre shape at the 7th fret, medium. Built on the Em7 open shape with the barre as a movable nut; the root is on the 6th string.
x-2-4-2-3-2: barre shape at the 2nd fret, medium. This is the open Am7 shape with a barre behind it, root on the 5th string.
x-14-12-14-12-14: partial barre shape at the 12th fret, medium. Up the neck the chord gets thinner and brighter, a good contrast to the open version.

Bm7 the capo way

With a capo you can skip the harder shapes: capo on the 2nd fret and play the open Am7 shape (x-0-2-0-1-0) or capo on the 7th fret and play the open Em7 shape (0-2-2-0-3-0). Everything above the capo is fingered exactly like the open chord.

Changing from Bm7 to the chords around it

Songs rarely hold Bm7 for long. Here's what your hand does on the moves that come up most.

E7 (V in A major): Bm7 (x-2-0-2-0-2) to E7 (0-2-0-1-0-0): move the index finger to the G string, 1st fret, your middle finger lands on the A string, 2nd fret. Shared notes: B and D. E7 on guitar
Dmaj7 (IV in A major): Bm7 (x-2-0-2-0-2) to Dmaj7 (x-x-0-2-2-2): your ring finger stays put, move the index finger to the G string, 2nd fret, the middle finger slides across to the B string at the same fret. D, F♯ and A carry over from one chord to the other. Dmaj7 on guitar
Amaj7 (I in A major): Bm7 (x-2-0-2-0-2) to Amaj7 (x-0-2-1-2-0): the index finger goes to the G string, 1st fret, the middle finger slides across to the D string at the same fret, the ring finger slides across to the B string at the same fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. Shared note: A. Amaj7 on guitar

Bm7 is a minor seventh chord: a minor triad plus a minor seventh. Bm7 is the easy-going minor, common as the ii chord right before a dominant seventh. On guitar you hear it best picked slowly, string by string.

A short Bm7 drill

Pick shape 1 one string at a time, low to high: B, D, A, B, F♯. Every note should ring clearly; if one thuds, adjust that finger before you strum. Then switch to 7-9-7-7-7-7 and back four times without looking at your hand.

Keys and progressions with Bm7

In A major, ii–V–I on guitar is Bm7 (x-2-0-2-0-2), E7 (0-2-0-1-0-0) and Amaj7 (x-0-2-1-2-0). About the jazz cadence.

Bm7 on piano and ukulele

Switching instruments? Try Bm7 on ukulele or Bm7 on piano, or compare them on the Bm7 chord page.

Next to try on guitar

Other minor seventh chords

Bm7 on guitar: questions

What notes are in Bm7 on guitar?

B, D, F♯ and A. In the x-2-0-2-0-2 shape the strings play B (A string), D (D string, open), A (G string), B (B string, open) and F♯ (high E string), so B is doubled.

What's the easiest way to play Bm7 on guitar?

x-2-0-2-0-2, the shape at the top of this page. It uses open strings, so there is no barre to press.

Is Bm7 a barre chord on guitar?

Not the usual shape: x-2-0-2-0-2 needs no barre. Barre forms exist up the neck if you want a different sound.

Which string does Bm7 start on?

In the x-2-0-2-0-2 shape the lowest string you play is the A string at the 2nd fret, which is B, the root. Skip the low E string.

Every shape above plays only B, D, F♯ and A, checked by the site's tests. Updated September 2026.