B minor chords, relative major and Camelot code (10A)
B minor has 2 sharps (F♯, C♯). Its chords are Bm, C♯°, D, Em, F♯m, G and A. The relative major is D major and the Camelot code is 10A, so it mixes cleanly with 9A, 11A and 10B.
Notes in the B minor scale
B minor has 2 sharps (F♯, C♯).
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B | C♯ | D | E | F♯ | G | A |
Chords in B minor
Stack every other note of the scale on each degree and you get the seven chords that belong to the key:
| Degree | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| i | Bm | B · D · F♯ |
| ii° | C♯° | 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 |
In practice most songs in B minor swap the minor v for F♯. Raising the seventh note (A to A♯) gives a leading note that pulls back to B, so F♯ to Bm sounds like arriving home.
Common progressions in B minor
- Bm – G – D – A (i–VI–III–VII): the minor-key pop and trap loop.
- Bm – Em – F♯m (i–iv–v): the plain minor blues shape.
- Bm – A – G – F♯ (i–VII–VI–V): the descending Andalusian cadence, with a major V.
- Bm – Em – A – D (i–iv–VII–III): a common lo-fi and R&B cycle.
Keys that mix with B minor
B minor is 10A on the Camelot wheel. For a clean blend, go to a key next to it:
| Camelot | Key | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| 9A | E minor | One step round the wheel: shares six of its seven notes |
| 11A | F♯ minor | One step the other way: also shares six of seven notes |
| 10B | D major | The relative major: exactly the same notes |
How the wheel works is in the Camelot wheel explained, and how to use it in a set is in harmonic mixing for DJs.
Relative and parallel keys
The relative major, D major, uses exactly the same notes with a different home chord. The parallel major, B major, keeps B as home but changes three notes. More on the difference in relative major and minor keys.
Questions people ask
What chords are in B minor?
Bm (i), C♯° (ii°), D (III), Em (iv), F♯m (v), G (VI) and A (VII).
What is the relative major of B minor?
D major. It uses the same 7 notes, B, C♯, D, E, F♯, G, A, but centres on D instead of B.
What is the Camelot code for B minor?
10A. In Open Key notation it is 3m.
What keys mix well with B minor?
E minor (9A), F♯ minor (11A) and D major (10B). They sit next to 10A on the Camelot wheel.
How many sharps or flats does B minor have?
2 sharps (F♯, C♯).