G-sharp minor seventh chord (G#m7)
The G♯ minor seventh chord (G♯m7) 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: 4-6-4-4-4-4, barre at fret 4, with G♯ in the bass (fingers 1-3-1-1-1-1).
- Voicing 2: x-11-13-11-12-11, movable A-shape barre chord at fret 11, 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♯ (2) · G♯ (4) · B (7) · D♯ (11)
- String 5 (A): B (2) · D♯ (6) · F♯ (9) · G♯ (11)
- String 4 (D): D♯ (1) · F♯ (4) · G♯ (6) · B (9)
- String 3 (G): G♯ (1) · B (4) · D♯ (8) · F♯ (11)
- String 2 (B): B (0) · D♯ (4) · F♯ (7) · G♯ (9) · B (12)
- String 1 (E): F♯ (2) · G♯ (4) · B (7) · D♯ (11)
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): 1-3-2-2; it sounds G♯, D♯, F♯ and B.
G♯ minor seventh on piano
- Keys: G♯4, B4, D♯5 and F♯5.
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 (G♯m7/B): B, D♯, F♯ and G♯, with B in the bass.
- Second inversion (G♯m7/D♯): D♯, F♯, G♯ and B, with D♯ in the bass.
- Third inversion (G♯m7/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 (6 sharps) | ii7 | Supertonic |
| E major (4 sharps) | iii7 | Mediant |
| B major (5 sharps) | vi7 | Submediant |
| G♯ minor (5 sharps) | i7 | Tonic |
| D♯ minor (6 sharps) | iv7 | Subdominant |
| C♯ minor (4 sharps) | v7 | Dominant |
Progressions with G♯ minor seventh
- Jazz ii–V–I in F♯ major (ii7–V7–Imaj7): G♯m7 – C♯7 – F♯maj7
G♯ minor seventh or A♭ minor seventh?
G♯ minor seventh (G♯m7) and A♭ minor seventh (A♭m7) are the same chord with two names: they sound the same and use the same frets.
The spelling depends on the key: it is written A♭ minor seventh in flat keys and G♯ minor seventh in sharp keys.
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.
Is A♭ minor seventh the same chord as G♯ minor seventh?
Yes: A♭ minor seventh and G♯ minor seventh sound the same and are played the same way. It is written A♭ minor seventh in flat keys and G♯ minor seventh in sharp 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.