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G minor 7th chord on ukulele (Gm7)
Also called or written Gm7 or Gmin7
G minor 7th contains G, B♭, D, and F. The open-position grip uses three fretted notes and one open string.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 5, ♭7
- Root positionG–B♭–D–FGm77-7-6-8
- First inversionB♭–D–F–GGm7/B♭10-10-10-10
- Second inversionD–F–G–B♭Gm7/D0-2-1-1
- Third inversionF–G–B♭–DGm7/F3-5-3-5
How do you play a G minor 7th chord on ukulele?
G minor 7th is played in open position as 0 2 1 1: ring finger on the C string at fret 2, index finger on the E string at fret 1 and middle finger on the A string at fret 1. The G string rings open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | open | — | G (1) |
| 3 (C) | 2 | 3 | D (5) |
| 2 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (♭7) |
| 1 (A) | 1 | 2 | B♭ (♭3) |
AdvancedThe open G string must ring clearly while the index and middle fingers fret adjacent strings at the 1st fret, risking a muted open string.
Gm7/F inversion
G minor 7th is played at the 3rd fret as 3 5 3 5: index finger on the G string at fret 3, ring finger on the C string at fret 5, middle finger on the E string at fret 3 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 5.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 3 | 1 | B♭ (♭3) |
| 3 (C) | 5 | 3 | F (♭7) |
| 2 (E) | 3 | 2 | G (1) |
| 1 (A) | 5 | 4 | D (5) |
6th fret
G minor 7th is played at the 6th fret as 7 7 6 8: middle finger on the G string at fret 7, ring finger on the C string at fret 7, index finger on the E string at fret 6 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 8.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 7 | 2 | D (5) |
| 3 (C) | 7 | 3 | G (1) |
| 2 (E) | 6 | 1 | B♭ (♭3) |
| 1 (A) | 8 | 4 | F (♭7) |
Gm7/B♭ inversion
G minor 7th is played at the 10th fret as 10 10 10 10: barre your index finger across fret 10.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 10 | 1 (barre) | F (♭7) |
| 3 (C) | 10 | 1 (barre) | B♭ (♭3) |
| 2 (E) | 10 | 1 (barre) | D (5) |
| 1 (A) | 10 | 1 (barre) | G (1) |
Why it sounds like that
G minor 7th is built from the formula 1, ♭3, 5, ♭7. The minor 3rd between G and B♭ gives the chord its minor quality, and the minor 7th F adds a mellow tension. Compare it to G minor, which omits the 7th.
What goes wrong with G minor 7th?
- Letting the index finger touch the open G string, muting it.
- Pressing the middle finger too flat, which can buzz the A string.
- Rushing the placement so the E string note sounds sharp.
When to use it
G minor 7th works as the vi chord in B♭ major, appearing in the progression B♭ major–F major–G minor–E♭ major (I–V–vi–IV). It suits blues and rock. Try it with G minor and B♭ major.
Changing to and from G minor 7th
- Move to A♭ minor 7th by sliding the shape up one fret to the 1st fret.
- From G minor 7th, slide down two frets to the 1st fret for F minor 7th.
Which voicing to use
The open-position voicing keeps G in the bass for a grounded sound. The Gm7/B♭ inversion at the 3rd fret puts B♭ in the bass, softening the chord. For a brighter top, use the Gm7/D inversion at the 7th fret.
Other G chords
Common questions
How is G minor 7th written?
G minor 7th is written Gmin7 or Gm7.
Why does the open-position voicing feel easy?
The open-position voicing uses only three fretted notes and one open string, so the hand stays relaxed. The main challenge is keeping the open G string clear.
How does G minor 7th differ from G minor?
G minor 7th adds the note F, a minor 7th above the root. This extra note creates a softer, more complex sound than the plain triad.