Key

The key of B minor · 2 sharps: F♯ C♯

Minor keys sound darker and more serious. Songs in minor keys usually borrow a major V chord from the harmonic minor scale for a stronger pull home.

Relative major: D major — the same notes and key signature. Parallel major: B major. Scale: B minor scale.

Notes in the key

BC♯DEF♯GA

Chords in B minor

One chord on each note of the scale. Roman numerals show each chord’s position — uppercase for major, lowercase for minor.

Left-handed

i Bm

B D F♯

ii° C♯dim

C♯ E G

III D

D F♯ A

iv Em

E G B

v F♯m

F♯ A C♯

VI G

G B D

VII A

A C♯ E

Borrowed from harmonic minor

Raising the 7th note turns v into a major V (and V7) — the chord that makes minor-key songs resolve so strongly.

V F♯

F♯ A♯ C♯

V7 F♯7

F♯ A♯ C♯ E

vii°7 A♯dim7

A♯ C♯ E G

Common progressions in B minor

The epic minor progression i–VI–III–VII Bm – G – D – A The minor cadence i–iv–V–i Bm – Em – F♯ – Bm The Andalusian cadence i–VII–VI–V Bm – A – G – F♯

Circle of fifths

Each step clockwise adds a sharp (or removes a flat). Neighbors on the circle share all but one note, so B minor’s closest keys are right next to it — and its relative major sits on the outer ring. Click any key to open it.