G#m7 Chord
G#m7 combines a minor triad with F sharp, its flat seventh. In a ii-V-I it often starts the journey rather than ending it.
- Notes: G sharp-B-D sharp-F sharp
- Symbol: G#m7
- ii7 in F# major
- Minor third and flat seventh
G#m7
How to play a G#m7 chord
Notes: G# - B - D# - F#G#m7
Root position
G# - B - D# - F#1st inversion
B - D# - F# - G#2nd inversion
D# - F# - G# - B3rd inversion
F# - G# - B - D#
Where does G#m7 belong?
In F# major, G#m7 starts as ii7 before the dominant moves toward the tonic.
Play the role cards to hear how its surrounding chords change the job it does; Diatonic Chords explains the basic numbered roles.
- The ii in ii-V-Iii7
The first step of the most common move in jazz, heading to F#.
G#m7ii7C#7F#maj7 - The relative minorvi7
Same notes as B major with a darker center.
Bmaj7G#m7vi7C#m7F#7 - Dorian vampi7
Two chords back and forth: the major IV gives G# Dorian its brighter minor sound.
G#m7i7C#7 - A soft stand-iniii7
It shares three notes with Emaj7, so it moves without leaving home.
Emaj7G#m7iii7Amaj7
Progressions to try
- G#m7C#7F#maj7
G#m7 begins a ii-V-I in F# major; listen for the move through the dominant to the maj7 arrival.
- Bmaj7G#m7C#m7F#7
Here G#m7 serves as vi7, keeping the phrase moving toward the following minor-seven chord.
- G#m7C#7
The two-chord Dorian vamp gives G#m7 room to sound like a center without a final cadence.
- Emaj7G#m7Amaj7
In E major, G#m7 acts as iii7 between the home and IVmaj7 chords.
Which shape should you use?
On guitar, start with 464444, a barre at the 4th fret. Press the barred notes evenly and mute any strings marked x. The x-11-13-11-12-11 shape gives you another position when the neighboring chords sit elsewhere on the neck.
On ukulele, start with 1322, played at the 1st fret. The 4646 grip moves the chord to another register.
On piano, play G sharp-B-D sharp-F sharp. Move G sharp up an octave to reach the first inversion, B-D sharp-F sharp-G sharp; the notes remain the same while the lowest voice changes.
What are the inversions?
G sharp is the root, B the minor third, D sharp the fifth and F sharp the flat seventh.
- Root position: G sharp-B-D sharp-F sharp, with G sharp lowest.
- First inversion: B-D sharp-F sharp-G sharp, written G#m7/B if B is lowest in the whole arrangement.
- Second inversion: D sharp-F sharp-G sharp-B, written G#m7/D# if D sharp is lowest in the whole arrangement.
- Third inversion: F sharp-G sharp-B-D sharp, written G#m7/F# if F sharp is lowest in the whole arrangement.
A slash chord names the note in the bass, not merely the lowest note under one hand. Chord Inversions shows how to read that distinction.
How does G#m7 differ from G#7?
Keep G sharp, D sharp and F sharp, then raise the third from B to B sharp. That turns G#m7 into G#7; listen to the one moving voice. Try that one-note change on piano, then use the comparer to hear it in the full chord.
G#m7
G# - B - D# - F#G#7
G# - B# - D# - F#