Chords in the Key of G Minor
The key of G minor is built on the notes G – A – Bb – C – D – Eb – F. Every chord below is drawn from that scale, so they all sound at home together.
The seven chords in G minor
| Numeral | Chord | Notes | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| i | Gm | G Bb D | Minor |
| ii° | Adim | A C Eb | Diminished |
| III | Bb | Bb D F | Major |
| iv | Cm | C Eb G | Minor |
| v | Dm | D F A | Minor |
| VI | Eb | Eb G Bb | Major |
| VII | F | F A C | Major |
Seventh chords in G minor
Adding the next third on top of each triad gives the seventh chords of the key — the harmonic vocabulary most jazz and soul writing starts from.
| Numeral | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| i7 | Gm7 | G Bb D F |
| iiø7 | Am7b5 | A C Eb G |
| IIImaj7 | Bbmaj7 | Bb D F A |
| iv7 | Cm7 | C Eb G Bb |
| v7 | Dm7 | D F A C |
| VImaj7 | Ebmaj7 | Eb G Bb D |
| VII7 | F7 | F A C Eb |
Common chord progressions in G minor
| Numerals | Chords in G minor | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| i – VI – III – VII | Gm – Eb – Bb – F | A bright, anthemic minor progression. |
| i – iv – v | Gm – Cm – Dm | The natural-minor equivalent of the classic cadence. |
| i – VII – VI – VII | Gm – F – Eb – F | A modal, folk-leaning loop. |
| i – iv – VII – III | Gm – Cm – F – Bb | Moves toward the relative major for a lift. |
Relative major key
G minor shares all of its notes with Bb major, so switching between the two changes the mood of a piece without changing a single note. See Bb major.
Scale reference
See the full G Natural Minor scale for its fingering, key signature, degrees and step pattern.
Other scales for this key: G harmonic minor, G melodic minor, G minor pentatonic and G blues.
Other keys
Frequently asked questions
What chords are in the key of G minor?
The key of G minor contains Gm, Adim, Bb, Cm, Dm, Eb, F. These are the triads built on each degree of the G minor scale.
What is the relative major of G minor?
The relative major of G minor is Bb major. Both keys use exactly the same notes but resolve to a different tonic.
How many sharps or flats does G minor have?
The G minor scale is spelled G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F, which gives it 0 sharps and 2 flats.