G♯m Chord on Guitar
Notes G♯ B D♯. Start with the 4-string G♯m (x x 6 4 4 4): index flat across strings 3, 2 and 1 at fret 4, ring finger on string 4 at fret 6.
Chord · G♯m minor
Easy G♯m (4 strings) · x x 6 4 4 4
movable, no open strings
Em-shape barre (fret 4) · 4 6 6 4 4 4
barre, movable
Dm-shape, 4 strings (fret 6) · x x 6 8 9 7
movable, no open strings
Am-shape barre (fret 11) · x 11 13 13 12 11
barre, movable
1 G♯♭3 B5 D♯
- Barre: index finger flat across strings 3 to 1 at fret 4
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): muted, do not play
- String 4 (D): ring (3), fret 6
- String 3 (G): index (1), fret 4
- String 2 (B): index (1), fret 4
- String 1 (high e): index (1), fret 4
- Barre: index finger flat across strings 6 to 1 at fret 4
- String 6 (low E): index (1), fret 4
- String 5 (A): ring (3), fret 6
- String 4 (D): pinky (4), fret 6
- String 3 (G): index (1), fret 4
- String 2 (B): index (1), fret 4
- String 1 (high e): index (1), fret 4
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): muted, do not play
- String 4 (D): index (1), fret 6
- String 3 (G): ring (3), fret 8
- String 2 (B): pinky (4), fret 9
- String 1 (high e): middle (2), fret 7
- Barre: index finger flat across strings 5 to 1 at fret 11
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): index (1), fret 11
- String 4 (D): ring (3), fret 13
- String 3 (G): pinky (4), fret 13
- String 2 (B): middle (2), fret 12
- String 1 (high e): index (1), fret 11
Notes and formula
| Degree | Note | Interval from G♯ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | G♯ | root |
| ♭3 | B | minor 3rd |
| 5 | D♯ | perfect 5th |
Formula 1 ♭3 5 (minor). Same chord as A♭m: same pitches, same shapes.
Also written G#m, G#min, G sharp minor, A♭m, A flat minor.
More on this chord type: Barre chords
Capo shapes that sound as G♯m
Open shapes you may already know, moved up with a capo.
Em shape + capo 4
Dm shape + capo 6
Need the capo fret for a whole song? Capo calculator: any song key, any shapes. New to the capo? How to use a capo.
Progressions with G♯m
| Key · progression | Chords | Listen |
|---|---|---|
| G♯ minor i–VI–III–VII | G♯m – E – B – F♯ | |
| G♯ minor i–VII–VI–VII | G♯m – F♯ – E – F♯ | |
| B major I–V–vi–IV | B – F♯ – G♯m – E | |
| B major I–vi–IV–V | B – G♯m – E – F♯ | |
| C♯ minor i–iv–v–i | C♯m – F♯m – G♯m – C♯m |
Keys that contain G♯m
| Key | G♯m is the |
|---|---|
| G♯ minor | i |
| C♯ minor | v |
| B major | vi |
| F♯ major | ii |
| E major | iii |
| E♭ minor (written A♭m) | iv |
Minor keys here use the natural minor scale.
Playing G♯m: what goes wrong
G♯m in E, B and F♯
G♯m is the iii chord of E major, the vi of B major and the ii of F♯ major. In G♯ minor it is the i chord, with C♯m as iv and D♯m as v.
The Em shape at fret 4
In 4 6 6 4 4 4 the index barres all six strings at fret 4 and two fingers take strings 5 and 4 at fret 6. It is open Em moved up four frets, so the barre is the nut of the shape.
Capo 4 and an Em shape
With a capo on fret 4 the open Em shape sounds as G♯m. Charts in flat keys write the same chord A♭m: the fingering and the sound do not change.
Related chords
Learn and practise G♯m
- Metronomepractise the change to G♯m at 60 BPM
- How to read chord chartsstrings, frets, fingers, x and o
- Chord finder (chord namer)name any other shape you find
FAQ
What notes are in G♯m?
G♯, B, D♯: the 1, ♭3, 5 of the G♯m minor chord. A♭m is the same chord spelt with a flat.
What is the easiest G♯m chord?
x x 6 4 4 4: index flat across strings 3, 2 and 1 at fret 4 plus the ring finger on string 4 at fret 6. Strings 6 and 5 are not played.
Is G♯m the same as A♭m?
Yes, on the guitar. A♭m is the same chord spelled for flat keys, so the same fingering and the same sound.