Piano chords · Minor 7th chord
G♯m7 piano chord (G♯ minor seventh)
G♯m7 (also written A♭m7) is a minor seventh chord with 4 notes. It sounds mellow and smooth. Here's how to find it, play it and hear it.
G♯ – B – D♯ – F♯ · tap any key to hear it
The notes of G♯m7
G♯m7 is built from 4 notes (1 – ♭3 – 5 – ♭7):
- G♯, the root
- B, the minor third
- D♯, the fifth
- F♯, the minor seventh
G♯ and D♯ and F♯ are black keys, so keep your hand slightly further in, towards the fallboard, to reach them without stretching.
Fingering
- Right hand: 1 on G♯, 2 on B, 3 on D♯, 5 on F♯.
- Left hand: 5 on G♯, 3 on B, 2 on D♯, 1 on F♯.
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♯ – F♯ |
| 1st inversion | B – D♯ – F♯ – G♯ |
| 2nd inversion | D♯ – F♯ – G♯ – B |
| 3rd inversion | F♯ – G♯ – B – D♯ |
Where G♯m7 belongs
G♯m7 is the ii7 chord in F♯ major, the iii7 chord in E major and the vi7 chord in B major.
G♯m7 is G♯m with a minor seventh, F♯, added on top, which softens it from sad to smooth.
Hear it in a progression
G♯m7 – C♯7 – F♯maj7: ii – V – I in F♯ major, the backbone of jazz.
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♯m7 chord?
G♯m7 (G♯ minor seventh) is made of G♯, B, D♯ and F♯: the root, minor third, fifth and minor seventh.
How do you play G♯m7 on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on G♯, 2 on B, 3 on D♯, 5 on F♯, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on G♯, 3 on B, 2 on D♯, 1 on F♯.
How is G♯m7 different from the plain chord?
G♯m7 is G♯m with a minor seventh, F♯, added on top, which softens it from sad to smooth.