minor chord
G minor chord on guitar
The E minor shape with a full barre at fret 3. The same hand as F sharp minor, one fret higher.
Where the fingers go
- 1
index finger, thick E string, fret 3
The thickest string, nearest the ceiling.
- 2
ring finger, A string, fret 5
Count from the thick string: E A.
- 3
pinky, D string, fret 5
Count from the thick string: E A D.
- 4
index finger, G string, fret 3
Count from the thick string: E A D G.
- 5
index finger, B string, fret 3
Count from the thick string: E A D G B.
- 6
index finger, thin e string, fret 3
The thinnest string, nearest the floor.
- 7
Strum 6 strings, from the thick E string down
All six strings belong to this chord.
The notes in Gm
A chord is three or four notes played together. G minor is built from these:
| Note | Job in the chord | Where it is in this shape |
|---|---|---|
| G | root | thick E string, fret 3; D string, fret 5; thin e string, fret 3 |
| A# | minor third | G string, fret 3 |
| D | fifth | A string, fret 5; B string, fret 3 |
The root, G, is the note it is named after. The second note decides the mood: a major third sounds bright, a minor third sounds sad. This chord sounds sad or thoughtful.
Where it sits on the circle of fifths
The circle of fifths lines up the twelve keys so that neighbours share the most notes. Chords next to each other on the circle sound good one after the other, which is why songs move between them.
- Cm and Dm are Gm’s neighbours. Most songs in Gm use one or both.
- Bb is its relative major: the same notes, a different home. Swapping between them changes the mood without changing your hand much.
The mistake everyone makes
Watch out
The thin strings buzz
The barre needs the most pressure on the two thin strings. Roll the index finger a little toward the nut.
Tip
Slide it
Once F sharp minor works, slide the whole hand up one fret. That is G minor. Every fret is another minor chord.
Songs that use it
Songs in B flat and G minor. Blues and film music.
None of the songs on the site use Gm yet. It is coming with the next batch.
Questions people ask
- Which strings do I strum for G minor?
- 6 strings, from the thick E string down to the thin e. All six ring.
- What notes are in a G minor chord?
- G, A#, D. The G is the root, the note the chord is named after. The A# makes it minor.
- What chords go with Gm?
- Its neighbours on the circle of fifths, Cm and Dm, and its relative major, Bb. Songs move between these because they share notes.