Learn › B Minor Chord Inversions (Bm, Bm/D, Bm/F#)
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B Minor Chord Inversions (Bm, Bm/D, Bm/F#)
To invert Bm, move the bottom note up an octave: B D F# becomes D F# B (1st inversion, Bm/D), then F# B D (2nd inversion, Bm/F#). Below: each position on the keyboard, how to tell them apart, the fingering for each one and a progression that uses them.
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B minor chord: root position, 1st and 2nd inversion
Same notes, new bass: that is all an inversion changes.
Root position: B D F#
1st inversion: D F# B
2nd inversion: F# B D
- Root position: starts on B, a white key; black keys: F#
- 1st inversion: starts on D, a white key; black keys: F#
- 2nd inversion: starts on F#, a black key; black keys: F#
How to tell the Bm inversions apart
Two thirds stacked = root position. A fourth anywhere = an inversion, and the root is its top note.
| Position | Bass | Name | Figured bass | Shape (bottom to top) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Root position | B | Bm | 5/3 | minor 3rd + major 3rd |
| 1st inversion | D | Bm/D | 6 (6/3) | major 3rd + perfect 4th |
| 2nd inversion | F# | Bm/F# | 6/4 | perfect 4th + minor 3rd |
Fingering for each Bm inversion
| Position | Right hand | Left hand |
|---|---|---|
| Root position (B D F#) | 1-3-5 | 5-3-1 |
| 1st inversion (D F# B) | 1-2-5 | 5-3-1 |
| 2nd inversion (F# B D) | 1-3-5 | 5-2-1 |
Keep the thumb on the lowest note in the right hand and the little finger on the lowest note in the left.
Why Bm inversions matter: Bm → Em/B → F#/A# → Bm
Played in root position, Bm, Em and F# make the hand jump. With inversions every chord sits in the same place: Bm → Em/B → F#/A# → Bm. Most notes stay, the others move a step.
- From Bm to Em/B: B stays, D → E, F# → G.
- From Em/B to F#/A#: B → A#, E → C#, G → F#.
- From F#/A# to Bm: A# → B, C# → D, F# stays.
Make the inversions automatic
ChordRunner accepts every voicing, so you can drill Bm/D and Bm/F# at speed between other chords. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.
Play the demoThe Bm chord · All piano chords · Chord inversions explained
Common questions
What is the first inversion of B minor?
The 1st inversion of Bm is D F# B, written Bm/D: the third, D, is in the bass and B moves to the top. In figured bass it is a 6 chord.
How do I recognise Bm/F# on the piano?
Look at the lowest interval. In Bm/F# it is a perfect fourth, F# to B; the top note of that fourth, B, is the root.
What fingering do I use for Bm inversions?
Right hand: 1-3-5 for root position and 2nd inversion, 1-2-5 for the 1st inversion. Left hand: 5-3-1 for root position and 1st inversion, 5-2-1 for the 2nd inversion.
When are Bm inversions used?
Whenever Bm follows or precedes a nearby chord. In Bm → Em/B → F#/A# → Bm the bass walks by small steps and the right hand hardly moves, which is how accompaniments sound smooth.
Does ChordRunner accept Bm in any inversion?
Yes. Play Bm/D, Bm/F# or root position on a USB MIDI keyboard, detected automatically, or on an acoustic piano through the microphone: if the notes are B, D and F#, it counts.
Your instrument is the controller.
ChordRunner is a browser game that teaches piano and guitar chords: a chord appears on screen, you play it on a real instrument, and your runner jumps. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.
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