Key guide
G minor: scale, key signature and chords
G minor has two flats (B♭, E♭). Its scale is G, A, B♭, C, D, E♭, F — play the scale and every chord below.
- Key signature
- B♭ E♭ — two flats
- Scale notes
- G A B♭ C D E♭ F
- Relative major
- B♭ major
- Parallel major
- G major
- Dominant key
- D minor
- Subdominant key
- C minor
- On the piano
- 2 black keys and 5 white in the scale
The G minor scale
The G minor scale uses the notes G, A, B♭, C, D, E♭, F, the natural minor pattern of whole and half steps (W–H–W–W–H–W–W) starting on G. Each letter name appears once, which is why the accidentals are written as B♭, E♭ rather than as their enharmonic equivalents.
| Degree | Note | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | G | tonic |
| 2 | A | supertonic |
| 3 | B♭ | mediant |
| 4 | C | subdominant |
| 5 | D | dominant |
| 6 | E♭ | submediant |
| 7 | F | subtonic |
Harmonic and melodic minor in G minor
The natural minor scale above is the form the key signature gives you. Composers alter it to get a stronger pull to the tonic: the harmonic minor raises the seventh degree (G, A, B♭, C, D, E♭, F♯), and the melodic minor raises the sixth and seventh going up (G, A, B♭, C, D, E, F♯). A × means a double sharp.
Chords in G minor
Stacking thirds on each note of the scale gives seven diatonic triads and seven seventh chords. The Roman numeral gives each chord’s position; the role column says what it usually does in a phrase.
| Chord | Triad | Seventh | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| i | G B♭ D | G B♭ D F | tonic |
| ii° | A C E♭ | A C E♭ G | predominant |
| III | B♭ D F | B♭ D F A | tonic substitute |
| iv | C E♭ G | C E♭ G B♭ | predominant |
| v | D F A | D F A C | dominant |
| VI | E♭ G B♭ | E♭ G B♭ D | tonic substitute |
| VII | F A C | F A C E♭ | dominant |
In a minor key the v chord from the natural scale is usually replaced in cadences by a major V built with the raised seventh: D F♯ A.
Chord progressions in G minor
Four progressions worked out in G minor, each one playable:
- i – VI – III – VII Gm – E♭ – B♭ – FA rising-and-falling minor loop that stays inside the natural minor scale.
- i – iv – V – i Gm – Cm – D – GmThe minor cadence: the V is major, borrowing the raised seventh from the harmonic minor scale.
- ii° – V – i A° – D – GmThe minor ii–V–i: a diminished predominant resolving to the tonic.
- i – VII – VI – V Gm – F – E♭ – DThe descending “Andalusian” line, ending on the major dominant.
Keys related to G minor
- Relative major: B♭ major — same key signature, different home note.
- Dominant: D minor — one step clockwise on the circle of fifths; the key most pieces in G minor modulate to.
- Subdominant: C minor — one step counter-clockwise, adding one flat (or removing one sharp).
- Parallel major: G major — same tonic, opposite mode.
Questions
What are the notes in G minor?
The G minor scale is G, A, B♭, C, D, E♭, F. That is the natural minor form; the harmonic minor raises the seventh degree, and the melodic minor raises the sixth and seventh going up.
How many sharps or flats are in G minor?
G minor has two flats: B♭, E♭.
What is the relative major of G minor?
The relative major of G minor is B♭ major. The two keys share a key signature and the same seven notes, but G is the home note of the minor key.
What chords are in G minor?
The seven diatonic triads in G minor are Gm, A°, B♭, Cm, Dm, E♭, F. In practice the V chord is usually played as D, using the raised seventh from the harmonic minor scale.