Chords in the key of G minor
The key of G minor has seven diatonic chords: GmGmGmGm, A°, Bb, CmCmCmCm, DmDmDmDm, Eb and F. As sevenths: Gm7Gm7Gm7Gm7, Am7b5, Bbmaj7Bbmaj7Bbmaj7Bbmaj7, Cm7Cm7Cm7Cm7, Dm7Dm7Dm7Dm7, Ebmaj7Ebmaj7Ebmaj7Ebmaj7 and F7F7F7F7. They come from the G natural minor scale, G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb and F, one on each note.
The table shows each chord in two versions: the triad (the three-note chord) and the seventh chord (the same chord with a fourth note, the seventh, that enriches it).
Notes: G – A – Bb – C – D – Eb – F| Degree | Triad | Seventh | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| i | GmGmGmGm | Gm7Gm7Gm7Gm7 | tonic |
| ii° | A° | Am7b5 | subdominant |
| III | BbBbBbBb | Bbmaj7Bbmaj7Bbmaj7Bbmaj7 | tonic |
| iv | CmCmCmCm | Cm7Cm7Cm7Cm7 | subdominant |
| v | DmDmDmDm | Dm7Dm7Dm7Dm7 | dominant |
| VI | EbEbEbEb | Ebmaj7Ebmaj7Ebmaj7Ebmaj7 | subdominant |
| VII | FFFF | F7F7F7F7 | subdominant |
The roman numerals mark the chord's position in the scale: I is the first degree, V the fifth. Uppercase = major chord; lowercase = minor; ° = diminished.
Tonic chords stabilize and rest; subdominant chords prepare motion; dominant chords build the tension that asks for resolution.
These are the chords of the natural minor scale. In practice the v often becomes V (major) or V7, borrowed from the harmonic minor, to create the leading tone that pulls back to the tonic.