Chords in the key of G♯ minor
The key of G♯ minor has five sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯). Its seven chords are G♯m, A♯dim, B, C♯m, D♯m, 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 G♯m. The three chords doing most of the lifting are C♯m, E and F♯; add E♭ (the major V, with F𝄪 borrowed from harmonic minor) when you want a real cadence back to G♯m. Without it, F♯ to G♯m gives the modal, unresolved ending common in rock.
Key signature
G♯ minor has five sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯), printed once at the start of each staff. Sharp keys add one sharp per step clockwise around the circle of fifths: G♯ minor sits between C♯ minor and E♭ 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: A♭ major (same starting note).
Progressions in G♯ minor
The progression player below starts in G♯ minor. Change the key to hear the same pattern anywhere; the numerals stay the same.
In G♯ minor, 4 beats per chord. Open in the progression builder
- iG♯m
- VIE
- IIIB
- VIIF♯
| Progression | In G♯ minor | |
|---|---|---|
| i–VI–III–VII the minor anthem | G♯m – E – B – F♯ | |
| i–iv–V the minor cadence | G♯m – C♯m – D♯ – G♯m | |
| i–VII–VI–V the Andalusian cadence | G♯m – F♯ – E – D♯ | |
| i–VII–VI–VII the epic minor loop | G♯m – F♯ – E – F♯ |
Secondary dominants in G♯ minor
A secondary dominant is the dominant seventh chord a fifth above any chord of the key. Play it just before that chord and the arrival sounds stronger, as if the song briefly changed key.
- V7 of III
- V7 of iv
- V7 of v
- V7 of VI
- V7 of VII
Chords borrowed from the parallel key
Minor-key songs often take chords from A♭ major, the parallel major: C♯ (IV), A♭ (I) and B♭m (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
Stack one more third on each triad for the seventh chords: G♯m7, A♯m7♭5, Bmaj7, C♯m7, D♯m7, Emaj7 and F♯7. With the borrowed major V it becomes E♭7.
Playing in G♯ minor on guitar
G♯ minor is awkward in open position, so most guitarists use a capo: capo 4th fret with E minor shapes or capo 6th 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?
G♯m, A♯dim, B, C♯m, D♯m, E and F♯. As numerals: i = G♯m, ii° = A♯dim, III = B, iv = C♯m, v = D♯m, VI = E, VII = F♯. Most songs in G♯ minor also use E♭ (major V) in place of D♯m.
How many sharps or flats are in G♯ minor?
Five sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯).
What is the relative major of G♯ minor?
B major. The two keys share all seven notes.
What are the i, iv and V chords in G♯ minor?
G♯m (i), C♯m (iv) and E♭ (V, borrowed from the harmonic minor).
How do I play in G♯ minor on guitar with a capo?
Capo 4th fret, then play E minor shapes (Em, C, G, D); they sound as G♯m, E, B, F♯.
Chord spellings follow the key signature of G♯ minor; all of them are checked automatically. Updated September 2026.