A to Bm chord change
Your index finger, middle finger and ring finger lift and move; your little finger goes down fresh. Your strumming hand does not change: both chords start on the A string.
Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little finger. o means play the string open, ✕ means don’t play it.
Finger by finger
- Lifts and movesIndex finger (1) lifts and moves from the D string, 2nd fret to the barre across the A to high e strings, 2nd fret.
- Lifts and movesMiddle finger (2) lifts and moves from the G string, 2nd fret to the B string, 3rd fret.
- Lifts and movesRing finger (3) lifts and moves from the B string, 2nd fret to the D string, 4th fret.
- Goes downLittle finger (4) goes down on the G string, 4th fret.
| Finger | On A | On Bm | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Index finger (1) | D string, 2nd fret | barre across the A to high e strings, 2nd fret | Lifts and moves |
| Middle finger (2) | G string, 2nd fret | B string, 3rd fret | Lifts and moves |
| Ring finger (3) | B string, 2nd fret | D string, 4th fret | Lifts and moves |
| Little finger (4) | not used | G string, 4th fret | Goes down |
How to practise A to Bm
- Play A and pick each string on its own. Fix any string that buzzes before you start changing.
- Lead with the index finger. In Bm it plays the lowest note (the barre across the A to high e strings, 2nd fret), which is the first string you strum, so aim it there first and let the other fingers follow.
- Do “ghost changes”: switch from A to Bm and back 20 times without strumming. Lift your fingers only just off the strings, and land them all together.
- Now strum: four strums on A, four on Bm. When that is clean, try two strums each, then one.
- Time yourself with the trainer below: one minute, counting every clean change. Do it once a day and watch the number climb.
An easier way to play it
A to Bm7 (Bm7, no barre): the middle finger stays down. This version sounds a little different from A to Bm, because Bm7 replaces Bm. It works well in many songs, but check that it suits the one you are playing.
- Moves across, same fretIndex finger (1) moves across from the D string to the A string, staying on the 2nd fret.
- Stays putMiddle finger (2) stays put on the G string, 2nd fret.
- Moves across, same fretRing finger (3) moves across from the B string to the high e string, staying on the 2nd fret.
One-minute A to Bm trainer
Press Start, hold A through the count-in, then change back and forth for one minute. Tap the big button (or press the space bar) every time you land a clean chord. Your best score is kept.
Want other chords? Open the full chord change trainer.
A to Bm: questions
Which finger stays down when you change from A to Bm?
None stays in exactly the same place with the standard shapes. Your index finger, middle finger and ring finger lift and move; your little finger goes down fresh. With the easier fingering on this page, middle finger can stay in contact.
How do I change from A to Bm faster?
Practise the change on its own, not inside a song. Lift your fingers only just off the strings, land them all at once, and lead with the finger that has the longest trip. Then do one minute of changes a day with a timer and count them. If it still feels slow, try the easier version: A to Bm7.
How many A to Bm changes a minute is good?
Count every clean change: A to Bm is one, and back again is two. Around 30 in a minute is a solid start and enough for slow songs. At 40 most songs at a relaxed tempo start to flow, and at about 60 (one change a second) the change is ready for almost anything.
What songs use A and Bm?
A to Bm is V to vi in the key of D.
Is Bm to A the same as A to Bm?
It uses the same moves in reverse. Practise both directions: the trainer counts each switch either way.
More chord changes
Learn the chords in the right order
Fretwork’s lessons teach one chord at a time, with a ring test and a one-minute change check before you move on. The first two stages are free.