Key · minor
The key of B Minor
B Minor has 2 sharps (F♯ C♯). Its scale is B C♯ D E F♯ G A. The seven chords built on those degrees are i Bm, ii° C♯dim, III D, iv Em, v F♯m, VI G and VII A; the dominant is F♯m and the subdominant Em. Its relative major is D Major and its parallel major is B Major.
The scale on the keyboard
Fingering for both hands, the step pattern and the other forms are on the B Natural Minor scale page.
Scale degrees
| Degree | Note | Name | Interval from the tonic |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | Tonic | Unison |
| 2 | C♯ | Supertonic | Major 2nd |
| 3 | D | Mediant | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | E | Subdominant | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | F♯ | Dominant | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | G | Submediant | Minor 6th |
| 7 | A | Subtonic | Minor 7th |
Chords in B Minor
One chord on each degree of the scale. The dominant is F♯m and the subdominant Em.
| Numeral | Triad | Quality | Seventh |
|---|---|---|---|
| i | Bm | Minor | Bm7 |
| ii° | C♯dim | Diminished | C♯m7♭5 |
| III | D | Major | Dmaj7 |
| iv | Em | Minor | Em7 |
| v | F♯m | Minor | F♯m7 |
| VI | G | Major | Gmaj7 |
| VII | A | Major | A7 |
Chord functions
| Function | Chords |
|---|---|
| Tonic | i · III · VI |
| Subdominant | ii° · iv |
| Dominant | v · VII · V (harmonic) |
Common progressions in B Minor
| Progression | Chords | Level |
|---|---|---|
| i – iv – v | Bm – Em – F♯m | Easy |
| i – iv – V | Bm – Em – F♯ | Easy |
| i – VI – III – VII | Bm – G – D – A | Easy |
| i – VII – VI – VII | Bm – A – G – A | Easy |
| i – VII – VI – V | Bm – A – G – F♯ | Medium |
| i – VI – iv – V | Bm – G – Em – F♯ | Medium |
| i – iv – VII – III | Bm – Em – A – D | Medium |
| i – III – VII – iv | Bm – D – A – Em | Medium |
| i – iv – i – V | Bm – Em – Bm – F♯ | Medium |
| i – IV – i – V | Bm – E – Bm – F♯ | Hard |
| ii° – V – i | C♯dim – F♯ – Bm | Hard |
| iiø7 – V7 – im7 | C♯m7♭5 – F♯7 – Bm7 | Hard |
| 12-Bar Minor Blues | Bm – Bm – Bm – Bm – Em – Em – Bm – Bm – G – F♯ – Bm – F♯ | Hard |
The other keys
Part of the key reference. See also the chords and the scales.