Gm Piano Chord

G minor is the Gm piano chord. It has three notes: G, B flat and D. The middle note is a black key, and the outer two are white.

1G3B♭5DC3C4

G at the bottom, then B♭ and D. Right hand 1-3-5, left hand 5-3-1. The black key is B♭.

How to play Gm on piano, step by step

  1. Start on the G below middle C. That is the lowest note of the chord.
  2. Thumb (1): G
  3. Middle finger (3): B♭
  4. Little finger (5): D
  5. Press them together with the right hand. The left hand plays the same notes with fingers 5, 3, 1 an octave lower, or just G on its own as a bass note.

This is G major with the middle finger dropped one key onto B flat. Holding the thumb and little finger still while that one finger moves is a two second way to hear what a minor third does.

Inversions of Gm

The same 3 notes with a different one at the bottom. All of them are Gm; which you play depends on what the hand is coming from. Tap any card to hear it.

First inversionB♭ D G
Gm piano chord diagram, first inversion, B♭ D G
Lighter than root position and less final. A flat third in the bass tips the chord forward, which is why it usually sits between two other chords rather than at the end of a line.
Second inversionD G B♭
Gm piano chord diagram, second inversion, D G B♭
Open and slightly unresolved. A fifth in the bass makes the chord sound like a step on the way somewhere, which is mostly how it is used.

If it sounds wrong

It sounds bright instead of sad
The middle note is B flat, the black key just left of B. B natural gives G major.
The middle finger keeps hitting two keys
Black keys are narrower. Aim the fingertip at the middle of the key and keep the finger fairly upright.
The chord sits too low
Root position G minor is below middle C. The first inversion, B flat D G, puts the same chord higher where it speaks more clearly.

What makes it a Gm

G · B♭ · D 1 ♭3 5

G minor is the first, flat third and fifth of the G scale: G, B flat and D. The three half steps from G to B flat make the minor third.

It is the relative minor of B flat major, the vi chord of B flat and the ii of F. In the key of F it is the chord that leads into C, which is one of the most common moves in music.

Gm vs G

One note. G major uses B; G minor uses B flat, the black key below it.

The hand shape changes as well as the sound: with the middle finger on a black key the whole hand sits a little further into the keyboard, which many players find more comfortable than the all white version.

Questions about Gm

Which notes are in a Gm chord on piano?

G, B flat and D. G and D are white keys; B flat is the black key to the left of B.

What fingers do you use for Gm?

Right hand: thumb on G, middle finger on B flat, little finger on D. Left hand: little finger on G, middle on B flat, thumb on D.

What is the difference between Gm and G?

The middle note. G major has B, G minor has B flat. One black key, and the chord changes from bright to sad.

Is Gm hard to play?

No. It is the same shape as G major with one finger moved onto a black key.

Where is the Gm chord used?

As the vi chord in B flat, the ii in F and the iii in E flat. It is very common in jazz and soul.

Chords to learn next

Other G chords