How to Play the Bm Chord in all CAGED Shapes
This is the final video in the guitar chords series, where we take a look at the Bm chord.
As you’ve learned by now, we build all guitar chords using one of the open-position chords C, A, G, E, or D — which spells CAGED.
These shapes can be applied to both major and minor chords. When it comes to a Bm chord, we begin by identifying the lowest possible chord shape we can use and then spell out CAGED from there.
For the Bm chord, we start with the Am shape as the foundation.
Next, we move on to the Gm shape. While it’s a bit tricky, it’s essential to attempt playing this shape so that we can visualise it and use it to build other chords, arpeggios, and modes.
More CAGED-Shaped Bm Chords
Next, we move on to the Em shape, which is much easier to play than the Gm shape.
After that, we have the Dm shape. This is a solid shape for the Bm chord.
Finally, we come to the Cm shape. Since this shape can only be played in fractions, you’ll want to focus on strings 2-4 or strings 3-5 to get the full effect.
Mastering the Bm Chord Across CAGED Shapes: Exercises and Song Applications
All of these Bm chords can’t be fretted in their full glory, especially the Cm shape. We can play them in smaller fractions or, alternatively, turn them into min7 chords. Now, the lowest possible chord shape is the Cm shape.
Once you’ve got your head around this CAGED system concept, your next step is to learn all these shapes. There are two key ways to do this, and you must do both:
- Practice exercises: I have loads of them available in the chords course of the SEPR. These exercises will help you get comfortable with all the shapes.
- Play songs that include Bm chords: You need to apply what you’ve learned in a musical context. Here are a few songs that use a Bm chord:
- Hey There Delilah by Plain White T’s
- Angels by Robbie Williams
- Over The Rainbow (Eva Cassidy version)
- Roxanne by The Police
By working through these two methods — exercises and real song applications — you’ll master the Bm chord across all CAGED shapes and be able to use them effectively in your playing.
Guitar Chords Summary
As you’ve seen throughout this 15-part video series, playing guitar chords isn’t about memorising thousands of chords. It’s about fully understanding how to build chords using the intervals within the five CAGED shapes.
Extending chords follows the same process. All you need to do is identify the intervals around each shape, understand which intervals belong to specific chords, and you can build them confidently.
The Bm Chord | Related Pages
Guitar chords
You can learn how to build all minor and major guitar chords using the CAGED system.
This system is more than just a method for constructing basic chords—it’s a comprehensive framework that allows you to visualise the guitar neck in a way that makes it easier to navigate.
By understanding the five basic open-position chord shapes (C, A, G, E, D) and how they relate to each other, you can form a mental map of the fretboard that stretches across all positions, from the open strings to the highest frets.
This system not only makes it simpler to move between chords but also forms the foundation for extending chords. Once you understand the basic structure of a chord, you can begin to add extensions. With CAGED, these extensions become easier to grasp and apply to any chord shape.
Additionally, the CAGED system helps you build arpeggios and modes. Since every chord shape in the CAGED system represents a series of intervals, you can use these intervals to construct arpeggios and modes.
As you move along the fretboard, these shapes give you the flexibility to play in different positions while maintaining a clear understanding of the harmonic relationships at play.
Ultimately, the CAGED system allows you to approach the guitar more intuitively, making it easier to unlock new musical possibilities and expand your playing across various styles.
The B chord
The B chord is not part of the CAGED open-position chords, but it’s essential to understand how to build it using the CAGED shapes.
In the video lesson, we explore this chord in all CAGED shapes. Mastering this concept will allow you to build all major guitar chords effectively.
Intermediate Acoustic
Most intermediate acoustic tunes require more than just basic open-position chords. You’ll need to move up the fretboard and play CAGED barre chords.
We’ll incorporate bass lines, add licks, extend chords, and play vocal melodies. Most importantly, we’ll create second guitar parts and play these songs together.
