B minor sixth (Bm6) chord on piano

Minor sixth chord (a minor triad plus a major sixth) on B: the notes of the Bm6 chord are B – D – F♯ – G♯.

Root position: B3 – D4 – F♯4 – G♯4

What the Bm6 chord sounds like

A minor sixth chord is a minor triad with a major sixth: dark but taut, with a film-noir feel. It is a common minor tonic in gypsy jazz, tango and jazz.

Notes of the Bm6 chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	B	root
3	D	minor third (3 semitones)
5	F♯	perfect fifth (7 semitones)
6	G♯	major sixth (9 semitones)

Root position and inversions

An inversion uses the same notes, with a different note at the bottom. When you change chords, choosing the nearest inversion keeps your hand almost still.

Root position

B3 – D4 – F♯4 – G♯4

1st inversion

D4 – F♯4 – G♯4 – B4

2nd inversion

F♯4 – G♯4 – B4 – D5

3rd inversion

G♯4 – B4 – D5 – F♯5

Which keys is it in?

The Bm6 chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

F♯ minor: iv6 (subdominant)
A major: ii6

Similar chords and substitutes

If Bm6 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

D – relative major: two shared notes
G – the major chord a major third below: two shared notes
Bm7 – a fuller, softer minor colour

Same notes

A♭m7b5 – the same notes with a different root

Simpler versions

Bm – all 3 of its notes are in this chord

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the Bm6 chord?

B, D, F♯, G♯. The root is B; the intervals of the other notes from the root: minor third, perfect fifth, major sixth.

How do I play the Bm6 chord on piano?

In root position, the right hand usually plays with fingers 1, 3 and 5 (thumb, middle finger, little finger); four-note chords with fingers 1, 2, 3 and 5. The left hand mirrors this: 5, 3, 1. In an inversion the top or bottom note moves to the other side, so your hand moves less when you change chords.

Why do some songbooks write H instead of B?

In German and Central European notation, H is the note B, and B is the note B♭. So a “B” chord in a German or Hungarian songbook is B♭ in English notation, and an “H” chord is B. Always check which notation your chord chart uses.