G Minor 7th
3rd FretThe standard Gm7 — Em7-shape barre at the 3rd fret. Barre fret 3 with the index across all six strings, then ring on A fret 5. The most widely used Gm7 voicing, with the root on the low E string.
G Minor 7th
10th FretAm7-shape barre at the 10th fret. Barre fret 10 with the index across the A, D, G, B, and high e strings; ring on D fret 12, middle on B fret 11. A full Gm7 voicing rooted on the A string.
G Minor 7th
5th FretA compact 4-string D-shape voicing with the root on the D string at fret 5. Index on D fret 5 (root), pinky on G fret 7 (5th), ring on B fret 6 (minor 7th), middle on high e fret 6 (minor 3rd). Strum the top four strings only — no barre.
G Minor 7th
10th FretCompact three-note voicing on the top strings — minor 7th on G fret 10, minor 3rd on B fret 11, 5th on high e fret 10. Only three fingers, no barre. Great for fast comping and quiet rhythm work.
G Minor 7th
15th FretThe 3rd-fret Em7-shape barre moved one octave up — barre across all six strings at fret 15 with the index, then ring on A fret 17. Bright and cutting for high-register chord work.
Tips for Playing the Gm7 Chord
Start with the Em7-shape barre
The 3-5-3-3-3-3 shape at fret 3 is the standard Gm7 — and easier than the full G minor barre because the D string drops to the barre fret. Master this shape first.
Fret 3 is comfortable
The 3rd fret is one of the easiest positions for an Em7-shape barre — string tension is moderate and the fret spacing is comfortable. Use this position to build clean barre technique.
Use the D-shape for a lighter sound
The x-x-5-7-6-6 voicing at fret 5 gives a brighter, more articulate Gm7 without any barre. Useful when you need clean voice-leading in jazz comping.
Gm7 in the ii–V–I
Gm7 → C7 → Fmaj7 is the classic ii–V–I in F major and one of the most-used progressions in jazz. Practise this cycle through every key.
Common in funk and blues
Gm7 is the home chord of countless funk grooves and a frequent flavour in blues. Try it with a percussive 16th-note strum and muted scratches between hits.
Sub for Gm
Gm7 sounds great as a substitute for Gm in soul, R&B, neo-soul, and bossa nova. The added F (minor 7th) softens the chord without changing its overall feel.
About the Gm7 Chord on Guitar
The Gm7 chord is built from four notes: G (the root), B♭ (the minor 3rd), D (the perfect 5th), and F (the minor 7th). It is the G minor triad with an added flat 7th, giving the chord a smooth, mellow, slightly melancholy character. Because the B♭ and F require fretted notes (and the open G must be muted or doubled), every Gm7 voicing depends on at least one moveable fingering — but the standard Em7-shape barre at fret 3 (3-5-3-3-3-3) is one of the most comfortable barre chords on guitar. Gm7 functions as the ii chord in F major (a common jazz key), the vi chord in B♭ major, and the i chord in G minor, appearing constantly in jazz, blues, funk, soul, R&B, and neo-soul. This page covers five voicings, from the standard Em7-shape barre at fret 3 to a high-register barre an octave up. Every diagram is interactive and playable with real acoustic guitar sound.
- 015 Gm7 chord shapes from beginner to advanced
- 02Interactive diagrams — click Play to hear each chord
- 03Real acoustic guitar sound via audio engine
- 04Em7-shape barre, Am7-shape barre, 4-string D-shape, top-string voicing, and high-register barre
- 05Difficulty rating on every shape
- 06Free — no sign-up or download needed
ANATOMY
Chord Tones
The 4 notes that form the G Minor 7th chord and their role in the major scale.
Every minor 7th chord follows this same formula — root, minor third, perfect fifth, minor seventh.