G Minor Chord On Guitar: Diagrams and Theory

G m position 1 guitar chord diagram

The G minor chord is often challenging for beginner guitarists because is usually taught with a bar chord shape.

In fact, the common way is to take the F minor chord and shift it up by 2 frets, to make a 6-string barre at the 3rd fret.

In this tutorial, we're going to study how to create the G minor chord, how to find its tones on the fretboard, and learn the main shapes for this chord: one super easy fingering, without barrè, a couple of bar chord shapes, and many other voicings.

The intervals composing the Gm chord are Root, Minor Third, and Perfect Fifth

The Gm chord is made up of the notes G, Bb, and D

Notes of the G m chord:

GBbD

Chord Formula:

1
b2
2
b3
3
4
b5
5
#5
6
b7
7

G Minor Chord | Common Shapes And Keys

In the following, we're going to see some G minor chord fingering options.

Before beginning, one warning:

Often, the stripped-down version of a chord does not sound as good as the original.

It is theoretically correct, and easier to play, but lacks sound richness.

Feel free to use it while learning, but your final target should be the standard shape, unless your musical taste suggests otherwise!

The G minor scale

We're not going to give a full lesson on harmony here, you only should know that a minor chord is constructed starting from its relative minor scale, taking the first (root), the 3rd and the 5th notes.

If you want to learn more about this, have a look at our chords formula tutorial.

Here's the G minor scales and its degrees:

G (1)A (2)Bb (3)C (4)D (5)Eb (6)F (7)G (8)

If we take the root, the 3rd and the 5th degrees of this scales, we have the tones that compose a Gm chord

G (1)Bb (3)D (5)

How we can apply what we learned so far to the guitar?

Well, if we have a look at the fretboard and where the three notes above are placed, we can start reasoning about our fingerings.

The G minor tones on the guitar fretboard

In the fretboard diagram below are shown the notes composing the G minor chord. Don't you know the notes of the fretboard?

Then you might find useful our guitar fretboard notes tutorial.

Gm guitar chord notes on the fretboard

Did you spot already a easy Gm fingering? No?

Don't worry, now we're going to see how to pick some of the notes shown above for creating our cool chord shapes.

On the guitar, once we know what notes compose a chord, we can take any of these notes on any string for creating our chord shapes.

There are some rules, that are not strict but just guidelines:

  • We can include a note in the chord one on more time, on any string and fret
  • The root of the chord, G should be always included. We can include it twice (on different strings) to give it more power.

    (Note: If you play with a band, this rule often does not apply, because for example is the bass player that plays the root).

  • The 3rd of the chord, Bb should be always present (because it's the tone that makes that gives a major or minor feel to the chord)
  • The fifth, D is the less important degree, but in this case, we'd like to include it as well.
  • Some fingerings sound very good, others not so good, it's a matter of personal taste, experience and feeling.

Super easy G minor chord with just 2 fingers

The easiest fingering for the G minor chord is shown in the following picture:

  • Place your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the E low string
  • Place your index finger on the 1st fret of the A string
  • Play the D string open (without pressing any fret)
  • Play the G string open (without pressing any fret)
  • Do not play the B open string
  • Do not play the E high string

Gm guitar chord easy fingering

Classic G minor chord with root on the 6th string

The following fingering is the most used for the Gm chord.

It's a bit challenging because it requires a full barrè all over the six strings, but it's a great shape to practice for gaining strength.

Gm guitar chord 6-strings barre

G minor chord with root on the 5th string

This fingering has a five strings barrè, and its taken in the higher fretboard position.

Be careful to mute the E lowest string, as E does not belong to the Gm chord.

This position is used a lot in funk and reggae music.

Gm guitar chord root on 5th string

Keys with the G minor chord

Here below you find the most common keys (major and minor) that have a G minor chord on one of their degrees.

Major keys containing a Gm chord

F major key

KeyIiiiiiIVVvivii
FFGmAmBbCDmEm/b5

Eb major key

KeyIiiiiiIVVvivii
EbEbFmGmAbBbCmDm/b5

Bb major key

KeyIiiiiiIVVvivii
BbBbCmDmEbFGmAm/b5

Minor keys containing a Gm chord

G minor key

KeyiiiIIIivvVIVII
GGmAm/b5BbCmDmEbF

D minor key

KeyiiiIIIivvVIVII
DDmEm/b5FGmAmBbC

C minor key

KeyiiiIIIivvVIVII
CCmDm/b5EbFmGmAbBb

G Minor Guitar Chord Shapes

Chord boxes are sorted from the easiest to the hardest. Learn how to read chord diagrams.

If you have difficulties with bar chord shapes, check the Bar Chords Tips tutorial.

Find more shapes on my all guitar chords online library.

Position 1
Movable

G m position 2 guitar chord diagram

Position 2
BarreMovable

G m position 3 guitar chord diagram

Position 3
BarreMovable

G m position 1 guitar chord diagram

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Play This Chord With Other Roots

C m | D m | E m | F m | G m | A m | B m | C#m | D#m | F#m | G#m | A#m

Complete Fretboard Map of G m chord tones

You can create any fingering you like on any part of the fretboard, just play some of the chord tones shown in the map below.

0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
1
b3
5
1
b3
5
1
b3
5
1
b3
5
1
b3
5
1
b3
5
1
b3
5
1
b3
5
1