G minor seventh chord (Gm7)
The G minor seventh chord (Gm7) is a minor seventh chord: a minor triad with a minor seventh on top, G, B♭, D and F (root, minor third, perfect fifth and minor seventh).
It is the ii7 in F major and the vi7 in B♭ major; its relative is B♭ major seventh, and D dominant seventh leads into it as its V7.
Below: voicings, notes on the fretboard, ukulele, piano, inversions and progressions.
How to play G minor seventh on guitar
There are 2 guitar voicings.
Frets from the 6th string to the 1st: x = not played, 0 = open string.
- Voicing 1: 3-5-3-3-3-3, barre at fret 3, with G in the bass (fingers 1-3-1-1-1-1).
- Voicing 2: x-10-12-10-11-10, movable A-shape barre chord at fret 10, with G in the bass.
Notes of the G minor seventh chord on the fretboard
G minor seventh has 4 notes: G, B♭, D and F. This is where they fall on each string, from the nut to the 12th fret (fret number in parentheses):
- String 6 (E): F (1) · G (3) · B♭ (6) · D (10)
- String 5 (A): B♭ (1) · D (5) · F (8) · G (10)
- String 4 (D): D (0) · F (3) · G (5) · B♭ (8) · D (12)
- String 3 (G): G (0) · B♭ (3) · D (7) · F (10) · G (12)
- String 2 (B): D (3) · F (6) · G (8) · B♭ (11)
- String 1 (E): F (1) · G (3) · B♭ (6) · D (10)
Formula and intervals of G minor seventh
Its formula is 1-♭3-5-♭7; in semitones from the root, 0-3-7-10.
- G: Root, the note that gives the chord its name
- B♭: Minor third (m3), 3 semitones above G
- D: Perfect fifth (P5), 7 semitones above G
- F: Minor seventh (m7), 10 semitones above G
G minor seventh on ukulele
- Ukulele (G C E A): 0-2-1-1, barre at fret 1; it sounds G, D, F and B♭.
G minor seventh on piano
- Keys: G4, B♭4, D5 and F5.
Inversions of G minor seventh
Each inversion puts a different note in the bass.
- Root position: G, B♭, D and F, with G in the bass.
- First inversion (Gm7/B♭): B♭, D, F and G, with B♭ in the bass.
- Second inversion (Gm7/D): D, F, G and B♭, with D in the bass.
- Third inversion (Gm7/F): F, G, B♭ and D, with F in the bass.
Keys that use G minor seventh
G minor seventh appears in 6 major and minor keys.
| Key | Degree | Function |
|---|---|---|
| F major (1 flat) | ii7 | Supertonic |
| E♭ major (3 flats) | iii7 | Mediant |
| B♭ major (2 flats) | vi7 | Submediant |
| G minor (2 flats) | i7 | Tonic |
| D minor (1 flat) | iv7 | Subdominant |
| C minor (3 flats) | v7 | Dominant |
Progressions with G minor seventh
- Jazz ii–V–I in F major (ii7–V7–Imaj7): Gm7 – C7 – Fmaj7
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the G minor seventh chord?
G, B♭, D and F: root, minor third, perfect fifth and minor seventh. Its formula is 1-♭3-5-♭7.
Which keys use G minor seventh?
Mainly as the ii7 in F major and the vi7 in B♭ major. In total it appears in 6 major and minor keys.
What is the relative of G minor seventh?
B♭ major seventh: they share three of their four notes. In the key where B♭ major seventh is Imaj7, G minor seventh is vi7; in a major key, the minor seventh chords are ii7, iii7 and vi7.