G♯ minor chord (G♯m)
G♯m is G♯, B and D♯: 1–♭3–5 built on G♯. Below: guitar, piano and ukulele, each playable.
On guitar
4-6-6-4-4-4 · barre · medium
- Notes
- G♯ · B · D♯
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · 5
- First shape
- 4-6-6-4-4-4
G♯m on guitar: every shape, finger by finger
On piano
root position · G♯–B–D♯ · right hand 1-3-5
- Notes
- G♯ · B · D♯
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · 5
G♯m on piano: fingering and inversions
On ukulele
4-3-4-2 · movable · medium
- Notes
- G♯ · B · D♯
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · 5
- First shape
- 4-3-4-2
G♯m and the chords around it
The moves below are the ones you'll meet most, shown for guitar and piano.
- G♯m → C♯ (V in F♯ major)
Guitar: G♯m (4-6-6-4-4-4) to C♯ (x-4-6-6-6-4): the index finger lays across the A to high E strings at the 4th fret, the middle finger slides across to the D string at the same fret, the ring finger slides across to the G string at the same fret, the pinky finger comes down on the B string, 6th fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. The two chords share G♯, which is why the change sounds smooth.
Piano: G♯m to C♯: play C♯ in 2nd inversion (G♯–C♯–E♯) and G♯ stays under the same finger, while B moves up to C♯ and D♯ up to E♯. C♯ - G♯m → B (IV in F♯ major)
Guitar: G♯m (4-6-6-4-4-4) to B (x-2-4-4-4-2): the index finger lays across the A to high E strings at the 2nd fret, the middle finger goes to the D string, 4th fret, move the ring finger to the G string, 4th fret, the pinky finger comes down on the B string, 4th fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. Shared notes: B and D♯.
Piano: G♯m to B: play B in 2nd inversion (F♯–B–D♯) and B and D♯ stay under the same fingers, while G♯ moves down to F♯. B - G♯m → F♯ (I in F♯ major)
Guitar: G♯m (4-6-6-4-4-4) to F♯ (2-4-4-3-2-2): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 2nd fret, the middle finger goes to the G string, 3rd fret, your ring finger lands on the A string, 4th fret, the pinky finger comes down on the D string, 4th fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go.
Piano: G♯m to F♯: play F♯ in root position (F♯–A♯–C♯), while G♯ moves down to F♯, B down to A♯ and D♯ down to C♯. F♯
Guitar with a capo: capo 4, Em shape; capo 6, Dm shape. Ukulele with a capo: capo 4, Em shape; capo 6, Dm shape.
How G♯m is built
G♯m has the gentle, slightly melancholy sound of a minor chord. It is home base in G♯ minor and a common guest in major keys.
From G♯, go 3 half steps up to B then 4 half steps up to D♯. Written with flats or sharps the other way round it's A♭m; the sound is identical.
| Note | Role | Half steps | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|
| G♯ | root | 0 | |
| B | minor third | 3 | |
| D♯ | perfect fifth | 7 |
Keys and progressions with G♯m
You'll find G♯m as ii in F♯ major, iii in E major and vi in B major. On the minor side it's i in G♯ minor, iv in E♭ minor and v in C♯ minor.
G♯m – E – B – F♯: that's i–VI–III–VII in the key of G♯ minor. the minor anthem
In G♯ minor, i–iv–V is G♯m – C♯m – D♯ – G♯m. the minor cadence
i–VII–VI–V in G♯ minor runs G♯m – F♯ – E – D♯. the Andalusian cadence
Play i–VII–VI–VII in G♯ minor and you get G♯m – F♯ – E – F♯. the epic minor loop
Chords close to G♯m
- G♯m and A♭ differ by one note: B in G♯m, C in A♭. They share G♯ and D♯. A♭
- G♯m and B differ by one note: G♯ in G♯m, F♯ in B. They share B and D♯. B
Chords that share most of their notes with G♯m: Emaj7, Fm7♭5, G♯m7, G♯m6, B6, C♯9.
Every G♯ chord
G♯ minor chord: questions
What notes are in the G♯ minor chord?
G♯, B and D♯. G♯m is built 1–♭3–5 from G♯: B is the minor third and D♯ is the perfect fifth.
How do you play G♯m on guitar?
The usual shape is 4-6-6-4-4-4 (barre). All 4 guitar shapes.
How do you play G♯m on piano?
Play G♯, B and D♯ with right-hand fingers 1-3-5. G♯ sits on the middle black key of the three. Inversions and left hand.
How do you play G♯m on ukulele?
4-3-4-2 in standard GCEA tuning. More ukulele shapes.
What key is G♯m in?
You'll find G♯m as ii in F♯ major, iii in E major and vi in B major. On the minor side it's i in G♯ minor, iv in E♭ minor and v in C♯ minor.
What's the difference between G♯m and A♭?
G♯m and A♭ differ by one note: B in G♯m, C in A♭. They share G♯ and D♯.
Diagrams and sound come from the same data, tested so they match. Updated September 2026.