B minor scale on piano
The B minor scale uses the notes B - C♯ - D - E - F♯ - G - A and has 2 sharps. This page shows the natural minor scale.
Numbers on the keys are right-hand fingers (1 = thumb, 5 = little finger).
B minor scale fingering
| Hand | B | C♯ | D | E | F♯ | G | A | B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Left hand | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Practice each hand alone, slowly, until the thumb crossing feels smooth. Then play hands together at a tempo where you make no mistakes, and raise it a little each day.
Chords in B minor
Build a triad on every note of the scale and you get the seven chords that belong to this key:
| Degree | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| i | B minor | B - D - F♯ |
| ii° | C♯ diminished | C♯ - E - G |
| III | D major | D - F♯ - A |
| iv | E minor | E - G - B |
| v | F♯ minor | F♯ - A - C♯ |
| VI | G major | G - B - D |
| VII | A major | A - C♯ - E |
The most common progression in pop music in this key is Bm - F♯m - G - Em (i - v - VI - iv).
Relative key
D major is the relative major of B minor. Both scales use the same notes; they simply start on a different note, which changes the mood.
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the B minor scale?
B minor: B, C♯, D, E, F♯, G, A, B.
How many sharps or flats are in B minor?
B minor has 2 sharps (C♯, F♯).
What is the relative major of B minor?
D major. It shares the same notes and key signature as B minor.