Explore chords · Ukulele
B minor chord on ukulele (Bm)
Also called or written Bm or Bmin
B minor is built from B, D, and F♯. The default 2nd fret shape bars three strings, so it requires a solid index barre.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 5
How do you play a B minor chord on ukulele?
B minor is played at the 2nd fret as 4 2 2 2: barre your index finger across fret 2 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 4.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 4 | 4 | B (1) |
| 3 (C) | 2 | 1 (barre) | D (♭3) |
| 2 (E) | 2 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (5) |
| 1 (A) | 2 | 1 (barre) | B (1) |
IntermediateThe index barre must hold three strings at the 2nd fret while the pinky reaches the 4th fret on the G string.
9th fret · ×-11-10-9 — the easy shape, no barre
B minor is played at the 9th fret as × 11 10 9: ring finger on the C string at fret 11, middle finger on the E string at fret 10 and index finger on the A string at fret 9. The G string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (C) | 11 | 3 | B (1) |
| 2 (E) | 10 | 2 | D (♭3) |
| 1 (A) | 9 | 1 | F♯ (5) |
Bmin/F♯ inversion
B minor is played at the 5th fret as 7 6 7 5: ring finger on the G string at fret 7, middle finger on the C string at fret 6, pinky finger on the E string at fret 7 and index finger on the A string at fret 5.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 7 | 3 | D (♭3) |
| 3 (C) | 6 | 2 | F♯ (5) |
| 2 (E) | 7 | 4 | B (1) |
| 1 (A) | 5 | 1 | D (♭3) |
9th fret · 11-11-10-9
B minor is played at the 9th fret as 11 11 10 9: ring finger on the G string at fret 11, pinky finger on the C string at fret 11, middle finger on the E string at fret 10 and index finger on the A string at fret 9.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 11 | 3 | F♯ (5) |
| 3 (C) | 11 | 4 | B (1) |
| 2 (E) | 10 | 2 | D (♭3) |
| 1 (A) | 9 | 1 | F♯ (5) |
Why it sounds like that
B minor uses the formula 1, ♭3, 5. The ♭3, D, gives the chord its minor quality. Raise that note a semitone to D♯ and you get B major.
What goes wrong with B minor?
- Letting the barre lift off the E string, which then buzzes.
- Placing the pinky too far from the fret, causing the G string to sound flat.
When to use it
B minor is the vi chord in D major, so it anchors the I–V–vi–IV progression: D major–A major–B minor–G major. Use it for rock, folk, and minor-key pop.
Changing to and from B minor
- Slide the whole shape down one fret to the 1st fret to get B♭ minor.
- Move to C minor by shifting the barre to the 3rd fret and the pinky to the 5th fret.
Which voicing to use
The 2nd fret shape keeps B in the bass and is the standard grip. The 9th fret voicing moves the same notes higher for a brighter cut, while the B minor/D inversion puts D in the bass for a softer sound.
Other B chords
Common questions
How is B minor written?
B minor appears as Bm, Bmin, B−, or Bmi. The root is B, and no enharmonic spelling is used.
Why does B minor sound darker than B major?
B minor lowers the third from D♯ to D. That ♭3 interval creates the minor quality, while B major uses a major third.
Can I play B minor without a barre?
The 9th fret voicing avoids a barre entirely, using three separate fingers on the C, E, and A strings.