A GMR sensor having improved longitudinal biasing is provided as is a method of forming it. The improved biasing is provided by longitudinal biasing structures in which a soft magnetic layer is interposed between a hard magnetic biasing layer and the lateral edge of the GMR sensor element. The soft magnetic layer eliminates the need for a seed layer directly between the hard magnetic layer and the GMR element and provides improved coupling to the free layer of the GMR element and a substantial reduction in random domain variations.