Chords in the key of G# minor
The key of G# minor has seven diatonic chords: G#mG#mG#mG#m, A#°, B, C#mC#mC#mC#m, D#mD#mD#mD#m, E and F#. As sevenths: G#m7G#m7G#m7G#m7, A#m7b5, Bmaj7Bmaj7Bmaj7Bmaj7, C#m7C#m7C#m7C#m7, D#m7D#m7D#m7D#m7, Emaj7Emaj7Emaj7Emaj7 and F#7F#7F#7F#7. They come from the G# natural minor scale, G#, A#, B, C#, D#, E 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# – B – C# – D# – E – F#| Degree | Triad | Seventh | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| i | G#mG#mG#mG#m | G#m7G#m7G#m7G#m7 | tonic |
| ii° | A#° | A#m7b5 | subdominant |
| III | BBBB | Bmaj7Bmaj7Bmaj7Bmaj7 | tonic |
| iv | C#mC#mC#mC#m | C#m7C#m7C#m7C#m7 | subdominant |
| v | D#mD#mD#mD#m | D#m7D#m7D#m7D#m7 | dominant |
| VI | EEEE | Emaj7Emaj7Emaj7Emaj7 | subdominant |
| VII | F#F#F#F# | F#7F#7F#7F#7 | 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.