Guitar arpeggio

B Minor 7 Guitar Arpeggio

B Minor 7 is a four-note seventh-chord arpeggio built from B, D, F#, and A. It is also commonly called B Minor Seventh and Bm7. Use it to study chord tones, interval formulas, and guitar fretboard positions.

Chord tones
B, D, F#, A
Formula
1 b3 5 b7
Semitones
0 3 7 10
Chord symbols
Bm7, Bmin7
Also called
B Minor SeventhBm7

How to read this arpeggio

The chord tones are shown as pitch classes first. In the fretboard tool, square markers represent B root notes, while circular markers represent the remaining tones in the arpeggio.

Use the interactive fretboard to locate the B root notes and connect the remaining minor 7 chord tones across standard tuning.

This same arpeggio shape is also commonly called B Minor Seventh or Bm7.

Chord construction and defining tones

b3D
b7A

B minor 7 is defined by b3 (D) and b7 (A). The minor third establishes the quality, and the flat seventh broadens the minor triad without creating dominant tension.

Harmonic use

Use this arpeggio over Bm7, minor-key passages, and minor ii-V or modal settings that include the flat seventh.

Practice this arpeggio on guitar

  1. Play the B Minor 7 arpeggio from one B root to the next in at least two fretboard positions, saying each note name and interval degree aloud.
  2. Connect b3 (D) and b7 (A) across adjacent string sets before filling in the root and fifth.
  3. Play over Bm7 and alternate phrases that land on the minor third with phrases that land on the flat seventh.

Fretboard diagram

B Minor 7 Guitar Arpeggio fretboard diagram in standard tuning
B Minor 7 Guitar Arpeggio fretboard diagram in standard tuning.

Open this arpeggio in the fretboard tool

Start with B Minor 7 loaded, then adjust tuning, labels, colors, fret count, and orientation.

Open in interactive fretboard

Arpeggio diagrams by tuning