Chords in the key of B minor

The key of B minor (natural minor) has the notes B, C♯, D, E, F♯, G, and A and the chords Bm, C♯°, D, Em, F♯m, G, and A. In practice the V and vii° come from the harmonic minor scale, with the leading tone A♯: F♯ (F♯7) and A♯°. Key signature: 2 sharps (F♯, C♯). Relative major: D major.

B
C♯
D
E
F♯
G
A

Natural minor

The scale of the key signature. Fine for melodies, but the v is minor (F♯m) and barely pulls back to the tonic.

Degree	Triad	Seventh chord	Function
i	Bm	Bm7	tonic
ii°	C♯°	C♯m7(♭5)	subdominant
III	D	D7M	tonic
iv	Em	Em7	subdominant
v	F♯m	F♯m7	dominant
VI	G	G7M	subdominant
VII	A	A7	dominant

Each chord in the table opens its guitar page, with the diagram and the sound.

Harmonic minor (the V7 and vii°)

The 7th note is raised a half step (A♯): the V becomes major (F♯, or F♯7 with the seventh) and the vii becomes diminished (A♯°). These are the chords minor-key songs use to get back to the tonic.

Degree	Triad	Seventh chord	Function
i	Bm	Bm(7M)	tonic
ii°	C♯°	C♯m7(♭5)	subdominant
III+	D+	D7M(♯5)	tonic
iv	Em	Em7	subdominant
V	F♯	F♯7	dominant
VI	G	G7M	subdominant
vii°	A♯°	A♯°7	dominant

Melodic minor

The 6th and 7th are raised a half step: the ii becomes minor (C♯m) and the IV becomes major (E). Common in jazz and in rising melodies.

Degree	Triad	Seventh chord	Function
i	Bm	Bm(7M)	tonic
ii	C♯m	C♯m7	subdominant
III+	D+	D7M(♯5)	tonic
IV	E	E7	subdominant
V	F♯	F♯7	dominant
vi°	G♯°	G♯m7(♭5)	subdominant
vii°	A♯°	A♯m7(♭5)	dominant

The chords of B minor on the piano

What each chord does

Tonic (Bm and D) feels at rest; subdominant (C♯°, Em, and G) moves away from home; dominant (F♯ and A♯°) builds tension and wants to go back to Bm.

Common progressions in B minor

Listen to each one and open it in the backing track to play along.

Andalusian cadence
i–VII–VI–V

A dramatic descent from flamenco, widely used in rock and Latin music.
- Bm
- A
- G
- F♯
Play it in the backing track
Basic minor
i–iv–V7

Im–IVm–V7: the essentials of a minor key; the V7 brings the tension of the harmonic minor scale.
- Bm
- Em
- F♯7
Play it in the backing track
IIm7(♭5)–V7–Im
iiø7–V7–i7

The jazz and bolero cadence in a minor key.
Play it in the backing track
Epic minor pop
i–VI–III–VII

Im–♭VI–♭III–♭VII: a grand chorus in a minor key.
- Bm
- G
- D
- A
Play it in the backing track

Relative and parallel keys

Relative major: D major. Both scales have the same notes and the same key signature (2 sharps (F♯, C♯)).

Parallel key: B major, with the same tonic and the other mode. Switching between them mid-song changes the mood without moving the home note.

Neighbours on the circle of fifths: E minor (a fifth below) and F sharp minor (a fifth above). Modulating to them sounds natural.

Circle of fifths

B minor is highlighted. Clockwise, each step goes up a fifth and adds a sharp; counter-clockwise, a flat. The relative minors are on the inside. Tap a key to see its chords.

Scales and tools for B minor

B natural minor scale on guitar B harmonic minor scale on guitar B melodic minor scale on guitar Transpose a chord chart to another key Play in B minor with easy shapes: A minor shapes with the capo on the 2nd fret

Chords in other keys

Major keys

Minor keys

Frequently asked questions

What chords are in the key of B minor?

Bm, C♯°, D, Em, F♯m, G, and A. As seventh chords: Bm7, C♯m7(♭5), D7M, Em7, F♯m7, G7M, and A7.

What is the relative of B minor?

D major. Both scales have the same notes and the same key signature: 2 sharps (F♯, C♯).

What is the key signature of B minor?

B minor has 2 sharps (F♯, C♯) in its key signature.

Why is the V chord major in B minor?

In the natural minor scale the v chord is minor (F♯m) and barely pulls to the tonic. Raising the 7th note a half step (A♯, the leading tone) gives the harmonic minor scale, and the V becomes F♯ (F♯7), which resolves strongly to Bm.

What chord progressions work in B minor?

The most common: i–VII–VI–V: Bm A G F♯; i–iv–V7: Bm Em F♯7; iiø7–V7–i7: C♯m7(♭5) F♯7 Bm7; i–VI–III–VII: Bm G D A.