Gm guitar chord: see the fingering, compare positions, and hear it before you play.
P - m - i - m · Alternating Folk (4/4 · 4 notes · Level 1)
The 1st string repeats the G of the 6th. This pattern leaves it out. All 6 arpeggios
Alternating picking with steady pulse.
Gm is built from G, Bb and D. G is the root, Bb the minor third and D the fifth. Said aloud, its notes are G, B flat and D.
String by string, low to high, it plays G, D, G, Bb, D and G. The root, G, shows up three times in the main shape. The lowest and highest notes are both G, two octaves apart, on strings 6 and 1.
For Gm, your index finger barres fret 3. Your hand covers three frets, from 3 to 5. This page has three positions. The others start at frets 5 and 10.
Change only string 4 in Gm and you have Gm7. Gm and Bb have Bb and D in common. Bb shares two positions with this shape.
You will find Gm in five different keys. In Bb major it is the vi, in F major the ii and in Eb major the iii. The rest appear in the key list. Further down there is a song that uses it.
G 1Bb ♭3D 5
Root Bass (Fundamental String)6th String (Low E) • Fret 3 (G)
String Control (Muted & Active)6 / 6 • Active and muted strings status indicator
Placement tip: Barre fret 3. Press: 5th String (A) at fret 5, 4th String (D) at fret 5.
Placement tip: Barre fret 10. Press: 4th String (D) at fret 12, 3rd String (G) at fret 12, 2nd String (B) at fret 11. Don't play: 6th String (Low E).
Placement tip: Press: 4th String (D) at fret 5 with your Index finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 7 with your Ring finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 8 with your Pinky finger, 1st String (High E) at fret 6 with your Middle finger. Don't play: 6th String (Low E), 5th String (A).
| Item | In this chord |
|---|---|
| Frets | 3 to 5 |
| Barre | fret 3, from the 6th to the 1st string |
| Fretting fingers | 3 |
| Open | none |
| Muted | none |
At fret 3, only the barre sounds the 6th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st strings.
Listen: Gm → Bb · Cm · D
Gm sits in the scale of 5 keys.
Well-known songs where this chord plays a clear role
The questions that come up most when playing this chord
To play the Gm chord on guitar, all 6 strings are played from the 6th string (Low E) to the 1st string (High E). Arch your finger joints perpendicular to the fretboard so adjacent strings ring clearly.
The primary bass note of the Gm chord is its root note: G. In standard guitar tuning (EADGBe), this bass note is located on string 6 at fret 3.
When strumming or fingerpicking, strike this string first.
The Gm chord is constructed using the 1 - ♭3 - 5 formula (Minor Triad). Its constituent pitches are G, Bb, D.
To prevent fret buzz on the Gm barre chord, roll your index finger slightly outward (about 15 degrees) to press with its harder bony edge. Position your finger directly behind the fret wire and apply gentle arm pull from your back rather than squeezing with thumb force.
"Black Magic Woman" (Santana, 1970). Heard in the verse (Dm - Am - Dm - Gm - Dm - A7 - Dm).
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