Playing the Bm7 Piano Chord
The Bm7 chord is a minor 7th chord built on the root B. It contains 4 notes: B, D, F#, A. On piano, this chord is played by pressing these keys simultaneously or as an arpeggio.
A minor triad with a minor seventh. Smooth, soulful sound central to jazz and soul music. Mastering the Bm7 chord opens up countless songs and progressions in the key of B.
Piano Finger Positions for Bm7
For the Bm7 seventh chord, use these finger positions:
- Right hand (root position): Thumb (1) on B, middle finger (3) on D, pinky (5) on F#.
- Left hand (root position): Pinky (5) on B, middle finger (3) on D, thumb (1) on F#.
- Arpeggiated: Play the notes sequentially from lowest to highest for a broken seventh effect.
Bm7 Chord Inversions
Inversions change the bass note while keeping the same harmonic quality:
| Inversion | Bass Note | Notes (bottom to top) | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root | B | B – D – F# – A | Most stable |
| 1st | D | D – F# – A – B | Lighter, less stable |
| 2nd | F# | F# – A – B – D | Open, airy |
Interval Structure of Bm7
| Degree | Interval | Semitones | Note in B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root | Root (R) | 0 | B |
| 3rd | Minor 3rd | 3 | D |
| 5th | Perfect 5th | 7 | F# |
| 7th | Minor 7th | 10 | A |
Common Progressions with Bm7 on Piano
- I–IV–V–I: Bm7 – Em7 – F#m7 – Bm7 (classic cadence)
- I–V–vi–IV: Bm7 – F# – G#m – E (pop progression)
- ii–V–I: C#m – F# – Bm7 (jazz turnaround)