Chords in the Key of B Minor
The key of B minor is built on the notes B – C# – D – E – F# – G – A. Every chord below is drawn from that scale, so they all sound at home together.
The seven chords in B minor
| Numeral | Chord | Notes | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| i | Bm | B D F# | Minor |
| ii° | C#dim | C# E G | Diminished |
| III | D | D F# A | Major |
| iv | Em | E G B | Minor |
| v | F#m | F# A C# | Minor |
| VI | G | G B D | Major |
| VII | A | A C# E | Major |
Seventh chords in B minor
Adding the next third on top of each triad gives the seventh chords of the key — the harmonic vocabulary most jazz and soul writing starts from.
| Numeral | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| i7 | Bm7 | B D F# A |
| iiø7 | C#m7b5 | C# E G B |
| IIImaj7 | Dmaj7 | D F# A C# |
| iv7 | Em7 | E G B D |
| v7 | F#m7 | F# A C# E |
| VImaj7 | Gmaj7 | G B D F# |
| VII7 | A7 | A C# E G |
Common chord progressions in B minor
| Numerals | Chords in B minor | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| i – VI – III – VII | Bm – G – D – A | A bright, anthemic minor progression. |
| i – iv – v | Bm – Em – F#m | The natural-minor equivalent of the classic cadence. |
| i – VII – VI – VII | Bm – A – G – A | A modal, folk-leaning loop. |
| i – iv – VII – III | Bm – Em – A – D | Moves toward the relative major for a lift. |
Relative major key
B minor shares all of its notes with D major, so switching between the two changes the mood of a piece without changing a single note. See D major.
Scale reference
See the full B Natural Minor scale for its fingering, key signature, degrees and step pattern.
Other scales for this key: B harmonic minor, B melodic minor, B minor pentatonic and B blues.
Other keys
Frequently asked questions
What chords are in the key of B minor?
The key of B minor contains Bm, C#dim, D, Em, F#m, G, A. These are the triads built on each degree of the B minor scale.
What is the relative major of B minor?
The relative major of B minor is D major. Both keys use exactly the same notes but resolve to a different tonic.
How many sharps or flats does B minor have?
The B minor scale is spelled B, C#, D, E, F#, G, A, which gives it 2 sharps and 0 flats.