B minor
The minor key with the tonic B. It has two sharps in the key signature, F♯ and C♯, and the same notes as D major. With two sharps it is one of the more common minor keys for guitar and choir.
Two sharps, minor
The page Circle of fifths lists B minor as the relative key of D major: “D major, 2 sharps, B minor”. The minor key begins three semitone steps below the major key, here B below D. As with every relative key, the key signature alone does not say whether a piece is in major or minor. See Relative key.
Natural minor
The same notes as D major, only the scale begins on B. The semitone steps lie between C♯–D and F♯–G.
Harmonic minor
The A is raised to A♯. The leading tone A♯ lies a semitone below B, between G and A♯ the augmented second arises.
As in every minor key there are three forms. The article The leading tone explains why the seventh degree is raised: the natural minor scale has no leading tone, the dominant would be a minor triad and does not pull. More under Harmonic minor and Melodic minor.
Chords and cadence
| Degree | Natural minor | With A♯ (harmonic) |
|---|---|---|
| i | Bm B–D–F♯ | Bm B–D–F♯ |
| iv | Em E–G–B | Em E–G–B |
| v / V | F♯m F♯–A–C♯ | F♯ F♯–A♯–C♯ |
| VII / vii° | A A–C♯–E | A♯° A♯–C♯–E, diminished |
The derivation of the diatonic chords is on the page Diatonic chords, with A minor as the example. The pattern is the same in every minor key.
Bm7 at the beginning
In the sheet music archive Carcassi's Study No. 12 begins with the chord Bm7. The page Name the Note points out that in German-speaking countries the note B is written H.
Guitar
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Etüde Nr. 12 Matteo Carcassi, op. 60 No. 12 · guitar · from: 25 Melodious Studies
Two sharps in the key signature, “Andante mosso.”, 4/4. The piece begins with the chord Bm7, followed by C♯m and D.
Common mistakes
- Confusing B minor and D major: Both have two sharps, the ending and the tonic decide.
- Writing the A♯ as B♭: In B minor the raised seventh degree is called A♯, not B♭.
- Spelling: Write the note letter as a capital and the mode word in lowercase: “B minor”.
Continue on Maikstrings
Related terms
D majorB majorRelative keyMinorHarmonic minorMelodic minorSharp keyMosso
Editor: Maik Krohm · reviewed on 3 October 2026
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