B minor is not the most popular key for music, but it still has plenty of uses. Of course, beginners are not too fond of this chord because it is a barre chord based on the A string, and it can be challenging to play.
This is also a relative key to the D major, which means that you can also use the D major scale for soloing. As long as you hit the root note. However, you can always stick to the B minor pentatonic if that feels more comfortable.
The key is often described as melancholic and solitary, while some composers called it the key of patience. Exploring the key of B minor can be quite fun, and there are so many great songs written in this key. So, here is a list of some of the most popular songs in B minor you can learn.
Men At Work – Down Under
Down Under was released in 1980, and it was the B-side of the single Keypunch Operator. It later appeared on the Business as Usual album, and it became popular worldwide. It was named the second “most Australian” song of all time.
The main theme of the song is in B minor, and the chord progression from the intro continues throughout the verse. The chorus is in D major, which is the relative key to B minor. The song doesn’t include a lot of chord changes, and it is fun to learn. Although, beginners might need to tackle a few new chords and strumming patterns.
Pink Floyd – Money
One of the most recognizable songs by Pink Floyd is Money. It was released in 1973, and it’s from The Dark Side of the Moon. What is interesting about this track is that there are a few changes in the tempo.
The song is in 7/4 but changes to 4/4 for the solo section. As for the progression, Money is based on twelve-bar blues, and it is in the key of B minor. Another fun fact is that the demo for the song was in G# minor, but the studio version was changed to B minor for the release.
Bob Marley And The Wailers – Jamming
If you are a fan of reggae, you probably know Jamming by Bob Marley and the Wailers. It is one of the most popular songs in the genre, and the chord progression is quite simple. Naturally, the song is in the key of B minor.
But with reggae, the main goal is to nail the rhythm. This means you will need to learn how to mute strings and play that unique strumming pattern if you want the song to sound as good as the original.
Billy Idol – Rebel Yell
Rebel Yell is one of the most famous songs by Billy Idol, and it was released in 1983 on the album with the same name. The song quickly became popular worldwide, and it is an amazing piece to learn.
The name of the song came from the bottle of bourbon Billy Idol shared with the members of the Rolling Stones. This tune is in B minor, and it can be quite tricky to play thanks to the fingerpicking intro, but it is worth checking out.
Cutting Crew – (I Just) Died In Your Arms
The debut single by Cutting Crew came out in 1986, and it is their most famous song. (I Just) Died in Your Arms became a global hit, and it topped charts all over the world. If you are interested in learning the song, you should know that this power ballad can be tricky.
The song is written in B minor, and the chord progression is simple. But if you want to play everything, you will need to learn all the licks and fillers that go throughout the song. Furthermore, you will need a whammy bar as well.
(I Just) Died in Your Arms Guitar Chords
Danzig – Mother
Mother is a song by Danzig, and it was released in 1988. It was the main single from the debut album, and it is one of the biggest songs of the era. At least when it comes to the world of heavy metal. The song has a powerful message, incredible riffs, and amazing production thanks to Rick Rubin.
If you are interested in learning how to play this song, there are a few things you will need to learn. Firstly, you will need to practice a lot if you want to nail the solo. However, the basics of the song are not too complex, and it is beginner-friendly.
Hall & Oates – Maneater
If you are a fan of the eighties music, you already know Maneater. It is a song by Hall & Oates, and it came out in 1982. The main key of the song is B minor, but it changes throughout the song. However, the most important part everyone knows is in B minor.
There are a few new chords you might want to learn, and the song can be tricky for beginners. Those who are familiar with unusual chords will love playing this tune, and it is a nice opportunity to learn something new.
Nine Inch Nails – Hurt
Hurt is a song by Nine Inch Nails, and it appeared on their second album called The Downward Spiral. The album was released in 1994, and Hurt received numerous awards. Many people are familiar with this track thanks to the cover by Johnny Cash that was released in 2002.
The song is in a key of B minor, and it is a bit different from the version recorded by Cash. Fortunately, it is not too hard to learn, and there aren’t many complicated chords you will need to learn.
Ed Sheeran – The Man
The Man is a song from Ed Sheeran’s second album called x (which is often named Times or Multiply). It was released in 2014, and it was the sixth single from this record. There are two main ways to approach this song.
You can either play it with a capo, which means that you will play Am as the key chord, or you can play barre chords instead. Either way, the song is in B minor, and it has a great-sounding chord progression.
Lady Gaga – Alejandro
Alejandro came out in 2009, and it is a song from Lady Gaga’s third EP called The Fame Monster. It is a reissue of her debut album called The Fame. Alejandro is a song in B minor, but you will need a capo to play.
The capo is on the second fret, and the first chord you will play is B minor. However, since you will be having a capo on your guitar, the shape will be the same as A minor. This is why tabs will often list chords based on the reference chords you would play without a capo. So, even though you will start with “open A minor,” it is still a B minor chord.
Ram Jam – Black Betty
Black Betty is a folk song, and one of the earliest recordings was by Lead Belly in 1939. While many people credit him for the song, there are older versions of this tune. But the most popular one is by Ram Jam.
The Ram Jam version was released in 1977, and it is considered one of the classics in the world of rock, hard rock, and rock blues. And playing it is quite easy. You will need to play power chords (or riffs), and the only thing required is to nail timings.
J. J. Cale – Carry On
Carry On is the opening track from J. J. Cale’s album called Shades, and it was released in 1981. The song is a mixture of several different genres, and it is something that will keep beginners busy for a while.
If you are unfamiliar with his career, you should know that J. J. Cale is one of the most influential players of the era, and he inspired guitarists like Mark Knopfler, Eric Clapton, and Neil Young. He is also famous for writing Cocaine, which was later covered by Clapton.
Eagles – Hotel California
Hotel California is one of the most famous guitar songs, and everyone knows of that incredible solo in the end. What is interesting is that the first version of the song had the main riff in E minor, but it was too high for Don Henley’s voice. Eventually, they settled on B minor, which is the original version of the song.
To play Hotel California, you will need a capo on the second fret, but it is possible to play the tune with barre chords instead. Needless to say, the song is complex, it has a unique strumming pattern, and there are quite a few chord switches during the song. But it is worth learning.
Hotel California Guitar Chords
3 Doors Down – Kryptonite
Kryptonite is a debut single from 3 Doors Down, and it was released in 2000. The song became the band’s biggest hit, and it appeared on numerous charts. Playing Kryptonite is not that challenging, and it’s beginner-friendly.
There are three main chords in the intro and verse, and the story starts with B minor. You will also need to pluck strings individually if you want to sound like the original version. And while it might sound complex, it is not too hard to learn how to play it.
Chris Cornell – You Know My Name
When Casino Royal came out in 2006, it was more than obvious that James Bond movies took a different approach. But one thing that didn’t change was having an incredible theme song. You Know My Name is the main song for the movie, and it was written by Chris Cornell and David Arnold.
The chords are not too challenging, but there are a few fast changes you will need to learn. You Know My Name is among the best Bond themes, and it was just proof that some things don’t need changes.
You Know My Name Guitar Chords
Eddie Vedder – Society
Society is a track from Eddie Vedder’s Into the Wild soundtrack. The soundtrack was released in 2007 along with the movie, and Society is one of the best tracks on the record. The song is played with a capo on the first fret, which means you will basically play A minor as the first chord.
The chord progression is also simple, and you won’t struggle with it even if you are a beginner. However, you still might want to practice switching chords on time and following the tempo.
Twenty One Pilots – Jumpsuit
Twenty One Pilots is a famous duo from Ohio, and Jumpsuit is a song from their fifth album called Trench. It was released in 2018, and it’s worth checking out if you are interested in songs written in B minor.
You will need a capo on the second fret, and you can play normal open chords. Naturally, playing an open A minor chord will still be B minor thanks to the capo. The chords are relatively simple and the song is beginner-friendly.
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Fortune Faded
Fortune Faded is a single by Red Hot Chili Peppers, and it was released on the Greatest Hits album in 2003. The song was originally recorded for By the Way, but it was never a part of the album.
Playing the song is relatively simple. You will start in B minor, and the chord progression is quite simple. Of course, if you want to sound like John Frusciante, you will need to add a few fillers and follow the main theme of the song.
Leonard Cohen – I’m Your Man
I’m Your Man came out as a single in 1988, and it appeared on the I’m Your Man album. It is one of the most famous songs by Leonard Cohen. The progression is simple, the tempo is slow, and the song is beginner-friendly.
But at the same time, there is something powerful about this tune. It’s so much fun to play. Needless to say, you might want to learn a few barre chords to prepare for this song, but you can always play shorter versions instead.
Metallica – One
One is a song from …And Justice For All album, it was released in 1989, and it is among the most popular songs by Metallica. The song is nearly seven and a half minutes long, and there are several different sections, tempo changes, key changes, and so on.
However, the beginning intro to the song is in B minor. This includes both the intro and verse. Keep in mind that this is not an easy song to learn. And it only gets more and more challenging as the song goes on.
Evanescence – Going Under
Going Under is a single by Evanescence and it appeared on their debut album Fallen from 2003. This nu metal band quickly gained popularity, and there are still many fans across the globe.
When it comes to playing the song, the first thing to mention is that it is not in E standard tune. Instead, you will tune your guitar to B E A D F# B. The rest of the song will be quite simple if you are familiar with riffs and power chords.
Nirvana – Drain You
Drain You is a song by Nirvana, and it appeared on one of the biggest albums of all time – Nevermind. It was also released in 1991 as a promotional single, and some versions of Smells Like Teen Spirit had it as a B-side.
The first thing you will need to do to play the song is change the tuning. Drain You uses D G C F A D tuning, and the song is in B minor. Fortunately, the song is not too hard to learn, and it is something beginners can do as well.
Dave Matthews Band – Grey Street
Grey Street is the third single from the Busted Stuff album by Dave Matthews Band, and it was released in 2002. If you are a fan of Dave Matthews Band, you probably already know this song. But even if you are new to the band, this is something you should check out.
The song has a simple chord progression, and there aren’t too many uncommon chords. At the same time, it is a fun tune to learn, and it sounds great on the acoustic guitar. Of course, if you own a 12-string guitar, it will be even better.
Radiohead – Climbing Up The Walls
Climbing up the Walls is a song by Radiohead, and it appeared on OK Computer in 1997. This is one of the most popular records by the band, and it is one of many hits you can learn to play. Naturally, the song is in B minor, and it sounds great on an acoustic guitar.
There are three main chords you will need to learn, which makes it perfect for beginners. The tempo is also not too fast, and you won’t struggle with fast chord changes. While it is not the biggest hit on OK Computer, the song is unique and a great insight into the incredible music Radiohead offers.
Climbing Up The Walls Guitar Chords
Dire Straits – Down To The Waterline
Down to the Waterline is the opening song on the Dire Straits album from 1978, and it is a classic. It was also the first demo song the band sent that ensured them the contract with Vertigo label.
If you are interested in learning how to play this B-minor tune, you will need to work hard. Playing Mark Knopfler is far from easy, and you will need to practice a lot to nail those fillers and solos. But even the rhythm can be too complex for some people. And now is the perfect moment for you to tackle this track.
Down To The Waterline Guitar Chords
B.B. King – The Thrill is Gone
The Thrill is Gone is probably the most famous song by B. B. King, and the single was released in 1969. It is worth mentioning that the original version came out in 1951, and it was written by Roy Hawkins and Rick Darnell.
B. B. King’s version is in 4/4, and it is a 12-bar blues in the key of B minor. And the main thing to do here is to learn the rhythm that is repeated throughout the song. As for the solo, the best option is to improvise using the B minor scale.
The Thrill Is Gone Guitar Chords
Goo Goo Dolls – Iris
Iris was written for the City of Angels soundtrack, and it was later included in the album Dizzy Up the Girl. The original version was released in 1998. So, the first thing to mention is the tuning. You will need to tune your guitar to B D D D D D. Yes, you read that right.
The low E string is tuned to B, while every other song is in D. And this will significantly change the way you play. You won’t use standard chord shapes, and it might be tricky to follow what is happening with the notes. However, it is a fun song to learn.
Chris Isaac – Wicked Game
Wicked Game first appeared on Chris Isaac’s third album Heart Shaped World, and it was released in 1989. What is unusual is that the song didn’t gain popularity until it appeared in the Wild at Heart movie by David Lynch, and it quickly became one of the biggest hits.
The song has three chords that repeat throughout the entire song, and it’s quite beginner-friendly. And if you are interested in learning it, now is a perfect chance. All you will need to do is learn B minor, A major, and E major chords.
Radioactive – Imagine Dragons
Radioactive was released in 2012, and it appeared on the debut EP by Imagine Dragons called Continued Silence. The song quickly became a hit, and it is a combination of pop and alternative rock, with elements of electronic music.
To play the song, you will need a capo on the second fret, and three main chords. And this is an amazing song for all the beginners out there. As you improve your playing skills, you will be able to add chord variations such as G6 or Cmaj7 to make the song sound even better.
Sting – Englishman In New York
Englishman in New York is an iconic song by Sting, and it was released in 1988. The song first appeared on the album …Nothing Like the Sun. Surprisingly enough, it is not that hard to play. Sting and the Police can often be too challenging for beginners, but this one won’t torture you too much.
The song is in B minor, and there are three main chords in the verse. The bridge is where the main difference is, and there are a few more chords added to the mixture. Of course, the primary goal should be understanding the rhythm and when to change chords.
Englishman In New York Guitar Chords
Conclusion
There are so many great songs written in B minor, and while it is not the most common key, you can still find plenty of different options. And there will be a song for you regardless of the genre you love listening to.
One of the most common practices for songs in B minor is to add a capo on the second fret and play open chords instead of bothering with barre chords. But this also means that you can play the majority of these songs without a capo if barre chords are not a problem for you.
As always, the most important thing is to practice. Some of the songs on the list can be great for beginners, while others will require a lot of dedication. And you can get there if you focus enough and spend time learning all the interesting bits that make these songs special.
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