Explore chords · Guitar
G minor chord on guitar (Gm)
Also called or written Gm or Gmin
G minor contains G, B♭, and D, built from 1, ♭3, 5. The open shape is a first-position staple that every beginner can fret cleanly.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 5
- Root positionG–B♭–DGm3-1-0-0-3-3
- First inversionB♭–D–GGm/B♭×-1-0-0-3-3
- Second inversionD–G–B♭Gm/D×-×-0-3-3-3
How do you play a G minor chord on guitar?
G minor is played in open position as 3 1 0 0 3 3: middle finger on the low E string at fret 3, index finger on the A string at fret 1, ring finger on the B string at fret 3 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 3. The D and G strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 3 | 2 | G (1) |
| 5 (A) | 1 | 1 | B♭ (♭3) |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (5) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (1) |
| 2 (B) | 3 | 3 | D (5) |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 4 | G (1) |
IntermediateThe hardest part is keeping the index finger arched on the A string while the open D string rings clearly.
3rd fret
G minor is played at the 3rd fret as 3 5 5 3 3 3: barre your index finger across fret 3, ring finger on the A string at fret 5 and pinky finger on the D string at fret 5.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 3 | 1 (barre) | G (1) |
| 5 (A) | 5 | 3 | D (5) |
| 4 (D) | 5 | 4 | G (1) |
| 3 (G) | 3 | 1 (barre) | B♭ (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | 3 | 1 (barre) | D (5) |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 1 (barre) | G (1) |
10th fret
G minor is played at the 10th fret as × 10 12 12 11 10: barre your index finger across fret 10, ring finger on the D string at fret 12, pinky finger on the G string at fret 12 and middle finger on the B string at fret 11. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 10 | 1 (barre) | G (1) |
| 4 (D) | 12 | 3 | D (5) |
| 3 (G) | 12 | 4 | G (1) |
| 2 (B) | 11 | 2 | B♭ (♭3) |
| 1 (e) | 10 | 1 (barre) | D (5) |
Gmin/B♭ inversion · ×-1-0-0-3-3
G minor is played in open position as × 1 0 0 3 3: index finger on the A string at fret 1, middle finger on the B string at fret 3 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 3. The D and G strings ring open. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 1 | 1 | B♭ (♭3) |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (5) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (1) |
| 2 (B) | 3 | 2 | D (5) |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 3 | G (1) |
Gmin/B♭ inversion · ×-1-0-3-3-3
G minor is played in open position as × 1 0 3 3 3: index finger on the A string at fret 1, middle finger on the G string at fret 3, ring finger on the B string at fret 3 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 3. The D string rings open. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 1 | 1 | B♭ (♭3) |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (5) |
| 3 (G) | 3 | 2 | B♭ (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | 3 | 3 | D (5) |
| 1 (e) | 3 | 4 | G (1) |
Why it sounds like that
G minor is built from the root G, a minor third B♭, and a perfect fifth D. The ♭3 interval is what separates it from G major, which raises that note to B. This single semitone change turns the chord from bright to dark.
What goes wrong with G minor?
- Letting the index finger collapse and mute the open D string.
- Pressing the middle and ring fingers flat so they touch the adjacent open strings.
- Strumming unevenly so some open strings are skipped.
When to use it
G minor is the vi chord in B♭ major, so it appears in progressions like B♭–F–Gm–E♭ (I–V–vi–IV). It suits folk, rock, and any progression that needs a melancholy lift. Pair it with B♭ major and E♭ major for the I–vi–IV–V loop.
Changing to and from G minor
- Move to C minor by shifting the index finger to the A string 3rd fret and changing the fretted notes to 5-5-4-3.
- Move to B♭ major by lifting the middle finger and placing the index on the A string 1st fret while the ring and pinky stay on the B and high E strings 3rd fret.
Which voicing to use
The open position gives the root G in the bass and is the easiest to grab. The 3rd fret barre shape repeats the same voicing an octave higher, while the Gmin/B♭ inversion puts B♭ in the bass for a darker, less stable sound.
Other G chords
Common questions
How is G minor written?
G minor is written Gm, Gmin, G−, or Gmi. The root is G, and no enharmonic spelling is used.
What is the difference between G minor and G major?
G minor lowers the third from B to B♭. That single note changes the chord from major to minor and gives it a sadder quality.
Why does the open G minor shape use all six strings?
The open G minor shape uses all six strings, with two open strings and four fretted notes. The open strings ring sympathetically and give the chord a rich, resonant sound.
Can G minor be played as a barre chord?
Yes, the 3rd fret barre shape is G minor with the root on the low E string. It is useful when you need a higher register or a consistent barre progression.