Bm Chord Guitar—Fingering Charts for Standard, Drop D, and DADGAD
The Bm chord contains three notes — B, D, and F# — and the fret positions that produce those notes change every time you retune. The diagrams below show the exact fingering for Standard tuning, Drop D, and DADGAD, with string notes labeled so you can verify the chord without guessing.
Bm Chord Shapes at a Glance
Three tunings, three different shapes. Pick the one that matches your current setup.
Standard setup for most guitarists
For a fuller, deeper bass response
For celtic or fingerstyle arrangements
Bm Chord in Standard Tuning (EADGBE)
In Standard tuning, the 6th string (Low E) is not part of the Bm chord, so you mute it. The chord starts on the 5th string (A), which you finger at the 2nd fret to produce B2 — the root note.
Chord name tip: This is the Am barre chord shape moved 2 frets higher. If you know Am (x02210), Bm is the same finger pattern barred at the 2nd fret.
| String | Open | Fret | Note | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (Low E) | E2 | × | — | Muted |
| 5 (A) | A2 | 2 | B2 | Root |
| 4 (D) | D3 | 4 | F#3 | 5th |
| 3 (G) | G3 | 4 | B3 | Root (8ve) |
| 2 (B) | B3 | 3 | D4 | Minor 3rd |
| 1 (High E) | E4 | 2 | F#4 | 5th (8ve) |
Bm Chord in Drop D Tuning (DADGBE)
Drop D lowers the 6th string from E2 to D2. D is already a chord tone of Bm (it is the minor third), so in Drop D you can play all six strings. The shape on strings 5–1 is identical to Standard Bm.
Drop D Tuner| String | Open | Fret | Note | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (Low D) | D2 | 0 | D2 | Min 3rd (Bass) |
| 5 (A) | A2 | 2 | B2 | Root |
| 4 (D) | D3 | 4 | F#3 | 5th |
| 3 (G) | G3 | 4 | B3 | Root (8ve) |
| 2 (B) | B3 | 3 | D4 | Minor 3rd |
| 1 (High E) | E4 | 2 | F#4 | 5th (8ve) |
Bm Chord in DADGAD Tuning
DADGAD retunes three strings compared to Standard. Because strings 2 and 1 now produce different notes, the Am-shape barre no longer lands on Bm chord tones. Strings 6, 4, and 1 are all tuned to D — a chord tone of Bm.
DADGAD Tuner| String | Open | Fret | Note | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (D) | D2 | 0 | D2 | Min 3rd (Bass) |
| 5 (A) | A2 | 2 | B2 | Root |
| 4 (D) | D3 | 4 | F#3 | 5th |
| 3 (G) | G3 | 4 | B3 | Root (8ve) |
| 2 (A) | A3 | 2 | B3 | Root (8ve) |
| 1 (D) | D4 | 0 | D4 | Minor 3rd (High) |
Why the Same Chord Needs Different Fingerings
Bm is always B, D, and F#. What changes is where those three pitches fall on the fretboard when the string pitches change. Every time a string is retuned, you must find the fret that produces the chord tone you need.
| Tuning | Str 6 | Str 5 | Str 4 | Str 3 | Str 2 | Str 1 | Strings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | × | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Drop D | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| DADGAD | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
Get Your Guitar in Tune First
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More Chord Charts and Tuning Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
- What notes are in the Bm chord?
- Bm is a B minor chord. It contains three notes: B (root), D (minor third), and F# (fifth). Every fingering variation produces some combination of those three pitches.
- Is there an easier version of Bm for beginners?
- The most common shortcut is to play only strings 4–1: fret 4 on string 4, fret 4 on string 3, fret 3 on string 2, and fret 2 on string 1. It avoids the barre but sounds thinner.
- Why does the Bm chord shape change in DADGAD tuning?
- DADGAD retunes strings 6, 2, and 1 a whole step lower. Because the open strings change, the frets required to reach B and F# on those strings shift accordingly.
- Can I use the same Bm shape in Drop D as in Standard tuning?
- Yes, the shape on strings 5–1 is identical. You can play the 6th string open (0-2-4-4-3-2) for a fuller sound or mute it to keep it identical to Standard.
- How do I know what tuning my guitar is in?
- Use a microphone tuner at GuitarTuner.io. It analyzes the frequency of each string to show if you are sharp or flat for your chosen preset.
- Do Bm chord shapes also change in Open G or Open E tunings?
- Yes. Open tunings retune multiple strings radically, so Bm voicings differ significantly and require their own specific reference charts.