Piano chords · Minor chord
Gm piano chord (G minor)
Gm is a minor chord with 3 notes. It sounds darker, more wistful. Here's how to find it, play it and hear it.
G – B♭ – D · tap any key to hear it
The notes of Gm
Gm is built from 3 notes (1 – ♭3 – 5):
- G, the root
- B♭, the minor third
- D, the fifth
B♭ is a black key, so keep your hand slightly further in, towards the fallboard, to reach it without stretching.
Fingering
- Right hand: 1 on G, 3 on B♭, 5 on D.
- Left hand: 5 on G, 3 on B♭, 1 on D.
Press every key at exactly the same moment, with the same weight. If one note sounds louder or a fraction late, the chord sounds uneven: play it slowly and listen for one sound.
Inversions
An inversion is the same notes in a different order, with a different note at the bottom. Inversions let you move between chords without jumping around the keyboard.
| Position | Notes, bottom to top |
|---|---|
| Root position | G – B♭ – D |
| 1st inversion | B♭ – D – G |
| 2nd inversion | D – G – B♭ |
Where Gm belongs
Gm is the ii chord in F major, the iii chord in E♭ major and the vi chord in B♭ major, and the home chord of G minor. Its relative major is B♭, which shares two of its notes.
G is the same chord with the middle note a half step higher (B♭ becomes B), which turns it from dark to bright.
Hear it in a progression
Gm – E♭ – B♭ – F: i – VI – III – VII, a classic minor-key progression.
Playing it, but it doesn't sound right? Ivory listens to you play and tells you what's off: a note that's missing, a hand that lands late, a chord that's uneven. Then it shows you how it should go.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the Gm chord?
Gm (G minor) is made of G, B♭ and D: the root, minor third and fifth.
How do you play Gm on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on G, 3 on B♭, 5 on D, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on G, 3 on B♭, 1 on D.
What's the difference between Gm and G?
G is the same chord with the middle note a half step higher (B♭ becomes B), which turns it from dark to bright.