G#m Ukulele Chord

G#m is the G sharp minor chord. It has three notes: G sharp, B and D sharp. The standard shape frets all four strings in a diagonal: index on the 1st fret of the G string, middle on the 2nd of the A string, ring on the 3rd of the C string, pinky on the 4th of the E string.

The diagonal: one finger per string, one fret per step, from the 1st fret of the G string to the 4th fret of the E string.

How to play G#m on ukulele, step by step

Index finger: 1st fret, G string
Middle finger: 2nd fret, A string
Ring finger: 3rd fret, C string
Pinky finger: 4th fret, E string
Strum all four strings.

The fingers land one fret and one string apart, a staircase across the whole width of the neck. Place the index first and walk the others up in order; the shape settles better built than grabbed.

More ways to play G#m

There are 3 common G#m shapes: the standard one at the top of the page, plus these further up the neck. You only ever need one. Tap any card to hear it.

G#m ukulele chord diagram, frets 3 to 6, played 4346 — Frets 3 to 6

G#m ukulele chord diagram, frets 6 to 8, played 8876 — Frets 6 to 8

If the diagonal will not settle

The last finger never lands cleanly: The pinky at the 4th fret sets the stretch. Try placing it first and letting the hand hang from it, then add the other fingers working back.
One string is always dead: All four strings are fretted, so there is nowhere for a lazy finger to hide. Pick each string in turn and firm up the one that buzzes.
The hand cramps: Drop the thumb to the middle of the neck's back and point the fingers in from above. The diagonal is a reach of angle, not of force.

What makes it a G#m

G♯ · B · D♯ 1 ♭3 5

G#m is a minor triad: G sharp, a minor third B, and a fifth D sharp. Like E flat minor, it touches no open string, so every shape for it frets all four strings: three notes, four fingers, no help from the tuning.

G#m is the relative minor of B major and works as the ii of F sharp and the vi of B. It earns its keep on the ukulele mostly through pop songs in B and E, where it is the minor chord the progression keeps landing on.

G#m vs Ab

G sharp and A flat are the same key on the instrument, so this pair is really minor against major on one root. Ab major (1343) and G#m (1342) differ by a single fret on a single string: the A string plays C natural for the major and B for the minor. The rest of the grip does not move.

That one fret is the whole major to minor swap, spelled C against C flat in flat key language, which is also why the same chord answers to G#m in sharp keys and Abm in flat ones.

G#m chord questions

Is G#m the same as Abm?

Yes, one chord with two spellings. Sharp keys write G#m, flat keys write Abm. This site files it under G#m, the name it usually wears in songs.

Why is G#m marked hard?

Every string is fretted and the four fingers sit on four different frets. Nothing is complicated, but nothing is free.

What is the difference between G#m and Ab major?

One fret on the A string: C natural for the major, B for the minor. The other three fingers stay put.

Is there an easier G#m?

Not with all three notes present. Of the three shapes here, the diagonal at the nut is the most manageable; the others sit further up the neck.

What keys use G#m?

It is the ii chord of F sharp major, the vi chord of B major, and the home chord of G sharp minor.