Gm guitar chord
The G minor chord: every way to play it on the neck, the notes in it, and the scales that sound good over it.
What's in Gm
- Notes
- G – B♭ – D
- Formula
- 1 – b3 – 5
- Name
- G minor
GmG · B♭ · D
3 ways to play it · Tuning E A D G B E
- Most common
- D shape · 5th fret
- A shape · 10th fret
What to play over Gm
Start with the chord's own notes — G, B♭, D — and land on them on the strong beats. Then reach for a scale; which one depends on the chord's job in the song.
- G minor pentatonic scale
The safe start, and the sound of most rock and blues solos.
- G Dorian mode
A minor with a brighter 6th — when the chord is a ii.
- G natural minor scale
The natural minor, when the chord is the song’s home chord (i).
- G Phrygian mode
Dark and Spanish-sounding, with the ♭2 — when the chord is a iii.
Questions
What notes are in a Gm chord?
Gm has 3 notes: G, B♭, D. Counted from the root, its formula is 1 – b3 – 5.
What scale goes with Gm?
G minor pentatonic scale is the place to start. The safe start, and the sound of most rock and blues solos.