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Gm Guitar Chord

G Minor · G–Bb–D

Gm is the G minor chord: G–Bb–D. Its sound is dark and emotional — the melancholic counterpart to major, built on the flat 3rd.

Gm is the relative minor of Bb major, so the two share every note and swap constantly in songs. You'll also find it as the ii chord in F major and the vi chord in Bb major — the emotional pivot of countless pop progressions.

The most common way to play Gm is the e-shape minor at the 3rd fret (3 5 5 3 3 3, low E string to high E string). Below you'll find 6 ways to play it across the neck, from open position to barre and shell voicings, with the theory behind the chord and the progressions it lives in.

How to Play Gm: 6 Voicings

Frets are listed from the low E string to the high E string. x = don't play that string, 0 = open string.

Gm — E-shape minor, 3rd fret
E-shape minor
3rd fret
3 5 5 3 3 3
Gm — D-string shell, 3rd fret
D-string shell
3rd fret
x x 5 3 3 x
Gm — Spread triad, 5th fret5
Spread triad
5th fret
x x 5 7 8 6
Gm — A-shape minor, 10th fret10
A-shape minor
10th fret
x 10 12 12 11 10
Gm — A-string shell, 8th fret8
A-string shell
8th fret
x 10 8 12 11 x
Gm — Top triad, 6th fret6
Top triad
6th fret
x x x 7 8 6

Gm Chord Theory

IntervalR♭35
NoteGBbD

Gm is built from the G minor scale.

Gm Chord FAQ

What notes are in the Gm chord?

Gm contains 3 notes: G (R), Bb (♭3), D (5). The interval formula for a minor chord is R–♭3–5.

What is the easiest way to play Gm on guitar?

Use the e-shape minor at the 3rd fret: 3 5 5 3 3 3 (frets listed from the low E string to the high E string, x = don't play that string). Gm has no open-position shape in standard tuning, so this movable form is the standard starting point.

What is the difference between Gm and G?

One note: the 3rd. G major uses the major 3rd (B) while G minor flattens it to Bb. That half-step is the entire difference between the bright minor sound and the darker major sound.

What keys use the Gm chord?

Gm appears diatonically in Bb major (as vi), F major (as ii), and Eb major (as iii) — plus it's the home chord (i) of G minor.

Related Chords

Hear yourself play Gm

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Gm Guitar Chord: How to Play G Minor | OpenFret