B minor 7 piano chord is an intriguing one to master, as its sound stands out from most others triads. Learning its construction will also help develop chord-building techniques as opposed to simply memorizing them at their root positions.
Each lesson step below will use one scale note as its source and construct a 7th chord that harmonizes with it, while simultaneously outlining different qualities and note intervals associated with this chord type.
Key Signatures
When learning b minor 7 piano, it is essential to comprehend its key signature – which consists of the pattern of sharps and flats – in order to make proper chord selection. B minor has two sharps – F# and C# – as its relative major is D major which also has two sharps as part of its signature.
There are various variations of the B minor scale, with B natural minor being the easiest version for most musicians to understand as it uses no additional accidentals. Other versions utilize different combinations of sharps and flats; harmonic minor utilizes natural minor’s key signature but adds an additional F# sharp on note 3. Melodic minor similarly uses harmonic minor but raises note G by one half step instead.
The notes of the B minor scale can be used to form an array of chords. Chords in this key usually use the i, v and iv chords and are commonly seen in classical music works like Edward Grieg’s In The Hall Of The Mountain King.
Each chord consists of a root note, minor third note and perfect fifth. Additionally, b minor seventh chords use this same combination and are abbreviated as Bm7 or Bmin7 chords.
B minor chords provide an ideal starting point for beginners as the chords can be played easily using just two fingers in each hand. This makes playing more complex songs in this key much simpler and can help develop your improvisation skills as you gain experience playing B minor chords.
Another key advantage of the b minor chord is its straightforward relationship to its major counterparts. It resembles D major scale closely, making it a good place for beginners to begin learning how to play some of today’s most beloved songs.
Triads
Triads are one of the foundational building blocks of chords, and one of the first things you should master on your piano. A triad is comprised of a root note, third note and fifth note; its distance between these notes determines its major or minor character – major sound happy, minor ones sadder. There are four qualities of triads-major, minor diminished and augmented-determined by interval quality between root note and third and between third and root.
To identify a triad, begin by sketching its root on the staff. Next, draw two snowpeople (F and A) representing notes three and five above the root. Finally, add any accidentals from key signature to this diagram to identify its notes; write down its name and quality if applicable.
An identification table can help you quickly determine the notes in a chord, such as this B minor 7 chord shown below in both treble and bass clef, with its name and symbol listed as well.
When playing a triad, make sure to palm-mute all strings below the root note, so the chord sounds full and rich. Next, play it using either your little finger, middle finger and index finger (left hand) or thumb, left index finger, middle finger, little finger (right hand).
B minor 7 is considered a minor triad because its third and fifth notes are separated by only a minor second. Furthermore, this chord’s notes all occupy root position — meaning all are situated on one string – meaning it cannot be played as an independent chord.
Once you know how to recognize triads, practice playing them in various key signatures and chord progressions. For instance, try Edward Grieg’s famous ballad Greensleeves in B minor – its simple chord is suitable for beginners yet will evoke all the grandeur associated with any song played; try even altering its order for added improvisational fun!
Inversions
Learning the various inversions for a B minor 7 piano chord can help you develop more satisfying chord progressions and make reading sheet music simpler. An inversion occurs when notes other than its root note end up on the bottom; at first it may seem confusing but once you understand how it works it can open up new possibilities when playing music songs.
Example of Inversion for Bm Chord
As illustrated on the staff diagram above, a number 6 has been added to the Bm7 chord because its note at its base represents seventh note of scale. Roman numerals may help reminding yourself about this fact when naming chords and their inversions.
In this example, Roman numeral VII represents this b minor 7 chord in its root position (or normal position). To indicate first inversion and second inversion respectively, numbers 6 and 7 are added at either end of chord respectively.
When changing inversions, just move the same chord up or down an octave on the staff while altering its root note – creating an entirely different chord in the same key with identical fingerings!
Prior to practicing them together, it is helpful to practice each inversion individually. Begin by practicing playing each chord’s root position, followed by its first and then its second inversions; this will give you an understanding of where your fingers should be placed on the keyboard.
Fingerings
There are many wonderful songs written for B minor key that you can learn to play, my personal favourite being Greensleeves by Edward Grieg in the 19th century. Although its chord progression may be simple, you’ll feel its grandness when performing such an iconic piece of music.
The b minor 7 chord is built upon a minor triad, but with the additional of a minor seventh note that produces an emotional and rich soundscape. This chord should be an essential part of your piano repertoire if you intend on creating original music yourself.
Below you can see an illustration of a B minor chord in its root position on the keyboard. The chord’s triad comprises notes B, D and F# that can all be played using three fingers on your right hand (or more depending on how you like to finger your chords). B minor chord fingerings tend to follow those for major chords so learning it shouldn’t be too challenging!
To play a b minor 7 chord in its 1st inversion on piano, one must possess some knowledge on how to invert chords. Simply shift up one octave (12 notes) the initial note until it becomes the final note in your chord.
This step illustrates a B minor 7 chord in its second inversion on piano, treble clef and bass clef. This chord contains 4 notes: B, D, F# and A and is often referred to as Bm7(b).
The B minor chord in its 3rd inversion on piano can be more challenging to play than its two inversions, so understanding their principles will help ensure you practice them until they become second nature!
To play this chord in its 3rd inversion, all that’s necessary to achieve its sound is moving its second and fourth notes up an octave (12 note), so they become the last note in the chord. Getting used to this can be more tricky because using pinky finger for playing F# note.