G-shape Minor Chord

The core G minor shape

The G minor shape is the G major shape with both thirds lowered a fret to the ♭3. The full shape combines the bass and treble grips across all six strings — that's how we want to see the chord, even though in practice it's played as two separate grips.

The bass shape, 4211xx, is a closed-voice root-position triad, like the minor version of the C shape's staircase sound.

More common, however, is the treble grip: an oddly comfortable shape that barres the three highest-pitched strings at the root fret while the bass finger leans over to mute the strings in between, 3xx444 (or 2xx333).

Incidentally, the G minor shape contains the same notes as the E minor shape rooted at the same fret; the E shape grips them from ahead, while the G shape grips them from behind.

Study and practice

Learn the chord grips

Master the G-shape minor grips using the exercises described in How to Master New Chord Grips.

Play minor primary chords

The minor primary chords (i-iv-v) are the same as the relative major secondary chords (vi-ii-iii).

Alternate between major and minor

Practice switching between the G-shape major and minor shapes, listening for the third dropping back a fret to the ♭3 on the fifth string.

Play the minor pentatonic over the chord

See the G-shape minor pentatonic lesson for more about playing this scale over the G-shape minor chord.