Piano chords · Minor chord
G♯m piano chord (G♯ minor)
G♯m (also written A♭m) 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 G♯m
G♯m is built from 3 notes (1 – ♭3 – 5):
- G♯, the root
- B, the minor third
- D♯, the fifth
G♯ and D♯ are black keys, so keep your hand slightly further in, towards the fallboard, to reach them 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 G♯m belongs
G♯m 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
G♯m – 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 G♯m chord?
G♯m (G♯ minor) is made of G♯, B and D♯: the root, minor third and fifth.
How do you play G♯m 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 G♯m 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.