Gm7 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.
Play Gm7 one string at a time and you hear G, Bb, D and F. G is the root, Bb the minor third, D the fifth and F the minor seventh. Said aloud, its notes are G, B flat, D and F.
From the low string to the high one you hear G, D, F, Bb, D and G. G rings twice across the six strings, and it is the root. The lowest and highest notes are both G, two octaves apart, on strings 6 and 1.
For Gm7, your index finger barres fret 3. Everything fits between frets 3 and 5. Besides the main one there are two more shapes, at frets 3 and 10.
Gm is one change away. String 4 moves from fret 3 to fret 5, bringing in G, the root of Gm. Gm7 holds the whole Bb chord inside it, Bb, D and F. Going to Bb, three positions stay the same.
Gm7 belongs to five 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 5F ♭7
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.
Placement tip: Barre fret 10. Press: 4th String (D) at fret 12, 2nd String (B) at fret 11. Don't play: 6th String (Low E).
Placement tip: Press: 6th String (Low E) at fret 3 with your Index finger, 4th String (D) at fret 3 with your Middle finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 3 with your Ring finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 3 with your Pinky finger. Don't play: 5th String (A), 1st String (High E).
| Item | In this chord |
|---|---|
| Frets | 3 to 5 |
| Barre | fret 3, from the 6th to the 1st string |
| Fretting fingers | 2 |
| Open | none |
| Muted | none |
At fret 3, only the barre sounds the 6th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st strings.
Listen: Gm7 → Gm · Bb · D
Gm7 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 Gm7 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 Gm7 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 Gm7 chord is constructed using the 1 - ♭3 - 5 - ♭7 formula (Minor Seventh). Its constituent pitches are G, Bb, D, F.
To prevent fret buzz on the Gm7 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.
"Evil Ways" (Santana, 1969). Heard in the chorus (Gm - C - Gm7 - C).
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