Chords in the key of G minor
The key of G minor has two flats (B♭, E♭). Its seven chords are Gm, Adim, B♭, Cm, Dm, E♭ and F. Tap any of them, or play them in order.
Tap a numeral to hear one chord; tap a shape to open it.
The chords that do most of the work
Home is Gm. The three chords doing most of the lifting are Cm, E♭ and F; add D (the major V, with F♯ borrowed from harmonic minor) when you want a real cadence back to Gm. Without it, F to Gm gives the modal, unresolved ending common in rock.
Key signature
G minor has two flats (B♭, E♭), written at the start of every line so you don't have to mark them on each note. Flat keys add one flat per step counterclockwise around the circle of fifths: G minor sits between D minor and C minor.
The notes of the key are the G natural minor scale: G A B♭ C D E♭ F. Relative major: B♭ major (same notes). Parallel major: G major (same starting note).
Progressions in G minor
Every progression below is spelled out in G minor. The player starts with the minor anthem.
In G minor, 4 beats per chord. Open in the progression builder
- iGm
- VIE♭
- IIIB♭
- VIIF
| Progression | In G minor | |
|---|---|---|
| i–VI–III–VII the minor anthem | Gm – E♭ – B♭ – F | |
| i–iv–V the minor cadence | Gm – Cm – D – Gm | |
| i–VII–VI–V the Andalusian cadence | Gm – F – E♭ – D | |
| i–VII–VI–VII the epic minor loop | Gm – F – E♭ – F |
Making G minor chords pull harder
Any chord in G minor can get its own V7. It isn't in the key, but it points straight at the chord that follows.
- V7 of III
- V7 of iv
- V7 of v
- V7 of VI
- V7 of VII
Mixing major and minor
Minor-key songs often take chords from G major, the parallel major: C (IV), G (I) and Am (ii). The major IV gives a brighter, Dorian lift, and ending a minor piece on the major I is the old "Picardy third".
Seventh chords in G minor
Add the next note of the scale on top of each chord and you get the key's seventh chords: Gm7, Am7♭5, B♭maj7, Cm7, Dm7, E♭maj7 and F7. With the borrowed major V it becomes D7.
Playing in G minor on guitar
G minor is awkward in open position, so most guitarists use a capo: capo 3rd fret with E minor shapes or capo 5th fret with D minor shapes. Barre chords work too.
Transpose a chord chart · How a capo works
Other keys
Key of G minor: questions
What chords are in the key of G minor?
Gm, Adim, B♭, Cm, Dm, E♭ and F. As numerals: i = Gm, ii° = Adim, III = B♭, iv = Cm, v = Dm, VI = E♭, VII = F. Most songs in G minor also use D (major V) in place of Dm.
How many sharps or flats are in G minor?
Two flats (B♭, E♭).
What is the relative major of G minor?
B♭ major. Same notes, same signature, a different home chord (B♭).
What are the i, iv and V chords in G minor?
Gm (i), Cm (iv) and D (V, borrowed from the harmonic minor).
How do I play in G minor on guitar with a capo?
Capo 3rd fret, then play E minor shapes (Em, C, G, D); they sound as Gm, E♭, B♭, F.
Computed from G A B♭ C D E♭ F and tested. Updated September 2026.