How to Play The G Minor Chord on Guitar?

Janvi Arora

11 July, 2024
7 min read

Minor chords provide a much darker, cynical sound to your guitar that can be used for representing tension, trouble, discomfort, pessimism, and other similar emotions.

Whether you have to represent a dilemma or create a sense of confusion for listeners, you need to play the G minor chord. Gm is one of those chords that initially sounds bright, but when you play it with other chords, you can hear it, leaving more of a tentative tone, which gives this chord its signature sound.
With this blog, we are showcasing finger placement, the strumming pattern you need to use, and other necessary tips that make it easier for you to practice Gm chords on Guitar. So grab your Guitar and follow our lead!! And Practice Guitar Chords with Torrins.

Understanding the G Minor Chord

Technically, you can play the G minor chord as an open chord. But in most cases, this open chord variation of Gm is never used as the finger position for this is awkward, making it hard to switch between chords.

G minor chord isn’t something you are going to find in every song; it is one of the least common chords that composers use in their music due to its unsettling sound. Still, for beginners, the Gm chord is essential to learn as it allows you to express negative emotions of the human mind.

How To Play The G Minor Chord?

To play a simplified G minor chord, you only need to press down your index finger on the third fret of the first three strings (E, B, and G), while adding your ring finger on the fifth fret of the fourth string (D). This is the most basic method for playing this chord also known as the mini version of the chord.

In order to play this variation of the G minor chord, you have to follow these steps:-

Step 1: Place your index finger (1) at the 3rd fret on the 6th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st string.
Step 2: Place your ring finger (3) at the 5th fret on the 5th string.
Step 3: Place your pinky finger (4) at the 5th fret on the 4th string.
Step 4: Now strum all six strings from bottom to top.

This is the most commonly used G minor chord variation as it uses all the 6 strings of the guitar resulting in a more fuller sound. To master it, you should first perform some guitar warmup exercises. After that, start practising this chord by using one of your index fingers as barre on the 3rd fret.

What Notes Make Up The Gm Chord?

The G minor chord is quite similar to that of the G major; the only difference here is the Bb, which is half-tone flat in comparison to the B note. In the G minor chord, you have G, Bb, and D. On the other hand, you can find G minor chords present in these keys; make sure to check out the guitar chord series to know more about them.

The key of C minor (Cm, Ddim, Eb, Fm, Gm, Ab, Bb)
The key of D minor (Dm, Edim, F, Gm, Am, Bb, C)
The key of Bb Major (Bb, Cm, Dm, Eb, F, Gm, Adam)

Variations of the G Minor Chord

GM Chord Simplified Variation

This variation is much easier than the one shown above. You only need to take care of one thing, which is not strumming the last 2 strings of the Guitar. This variation is much easier to play, but at the same time, the richness of the chord will be subdued.

If you are taking free beginner’s guitar lessons, you will come across this variation for sure. Be sure to work your way up by developing dexterity in terms of finger placement on the fretboard so that, over time, you will be able to play full Gm with barre chord formation.

Step – 1: Place your index finger (1) on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd string across the 3rd fret.
Step – 2: Place your pinky finger (30 on the 4th string at the 5th fret.
Step – 3: Strum only 1st to 4th string.

Gm Minor Chord 2nd Variation

This G minor chord variation is going to sound thin because you are only playing the first three strings of the Guitar. The thicker strings, which provide more thump to the note, are muted here.

Step 1: Place your index finger (1) across the 3rd fret at the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd string.
Step 2: Strum string from 1st to 3rd while muting the rest of the strings.

Gm Minor Chord 3rd Variation

Step 1: Place your index finger (1) at 1st on 5th string
Step 2: Place your ring finger (3) at the 3rd fret on the 6th string.
Step 3: Now strum the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th strings.
Step 4: Strings 1st and 2nd are muted or not played.

Genres Where The G Minor Chord Is Commonly Used

You can find G minor chords in a number of music genres, such as rock and pop, as it produces a sound that is both rich and sad. Some of the songs in which you can find the use of this are written down below.

Rock

Love Runs Out By OneRepublic
Shine On You Crazy Diamond By Pink Floyd
Rocket Man By Elton John
Turn It Again By Red Hot Chilli Peppers

Pop

DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love By Usher & Pitbull
Love the Way You Lie By Eminem & Rihanna
Scream By Usher
Sorry for Party Rocking By LMFAO
You Make Me Feel By Cobra Starship

Tips for Playing The G Minor Chord

Playing G minor is one thing, but to swiftly move from one chord to the other is something you need to practice if you want to win people over with your music. Here are some of the tips you should keep in mind while practising the G minor chord

Getting The Basics Right:- Before you dive deep into practising G minor chords, it is necessary to first understand the theory thoroughly. This includes proper finger placement, tuning the Guitar, learning the strumming patterns, and finding the appropriate use of barre chords.
Stretching Fingers:- Developing finger dexterity is crucial for playing the Gm chord. Try placing your fingers across the 5th fret, then stretch other fingers one fret at a time to move up and down the fret.
Familiarize Chord Transitions:- Start with the G minor chord, strum it four times, then switch to the E major chord, and again strum it 4 times. After that, Finish with the G major chord by strumming it 4 times. Repeat this exercise till you can reduce the gap of switching and become more comfortable with the transitions.
Online Guitar Lessons:- With the help of online lessons, you can learn top guitar songs via video Guitar Song lessons that cater to both beginners and advanced players.
Here are some Beginners Guitar Chords to practice and master your skill with perfection
Joining Guitar Communities:- Meeting and connecting with other guitar players will add valuable support to your guitar learning journey. Other guitarists might give you advice on how to play a specific note, chord, or progression. In addition, you also get to know about various gears and accessories that people are using to make Guitar playing as comfortable as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

G minor chord is one of the most basic chords, which is made from a triad formation from a root note (G), a minor third note (Bb), and a note (D).

The G minor chord is responsible for producing a darker sound, which is helpful in shifting the tone of the song from lively to melancholy.

G minor is based on the G scale; it consists of G, A, B♭, C, D, E♭, and F. Here you are going to find two flats. The presence of a half-tone flat gives it a darker tone and is the only difference between the major and minor G chords.

To play G minor chord, you only need to press down your index finger on the third fret of the first three strings (E, B, and G), while adding your ring finger on the fifth fret of the fourth string (D).

In the G natural minor scale, the iv chord is the C minor chord, comprised of the notes C, Eb, and G. It represents the subdominant chord, originating from the scale's 4th degree. The notation 'iv' denotes its position as the 4th triad chord within the scale.