The Gm ukulele chord is similar to the G chord, only with a sadder, darker tone. Learn how to play it along with three fingering variations in our comprehensive guide.
Written by Jay Searle / Published August 12, 2022
Last updated: May 2, 2024
Chord diagrams for the Gm ukulele chord with suggested fingerings and variations are shown below:
The Gm ukulele chord is a great next step for any budding ukulele player. If you already know how to play a G chord, then you are going to be absolutely fine. There is only one note difference between the G minor and G major chords.
So, let’s have a bit of a closer look at what makes up the Gm ukulele chord, where it comes from, and how to play it.
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What Notes Are In the Gm Ukulele Chord?
The G Minor chord is made up of three notes, namely G, Bb and E. These notes are taken from the G Minor scale. They are the first, flattened third and fifth notes of the scale and together they make up the minor triad.
This set of notes can be combined in a number of ways on the ukulele, each of which has a slightly different sound and playability.
How Do You Play the Gm Ukulele Chord?
There are several ways to play the G minor chord on a ukulele. The notes of the chord are taken from the G minor scale and what gives the chord that minor tonality is the flattened third. It gives the characteristic melancholy sound of minor chords.
Gm Ukulele Chord in Open Position
This one is fairly easy for beginners because it can be played in an open position. This means that you make use of “open strings” that are not necessarily pressed down on the fretboard. An example of this is shown below, the 4th string is allowed to ring out.
You can, of course, mute it with your hand if you prefer. This is because that particular note, the G, is the exact same pitch as the G note on the 2nd string. There is, of course, nothing stopping you from strumming it if you wish to do so, and it may be easier to do that when you are just starting out.
Gm Ukulele Chord Variations
Next, we’ll look at playing the G minor chord in different positions of the ukulele. As we move up the fretboard, the order in which we play the notes will change, giving the chord a slightly different sound depending on which note is in the bass. It’s important to note that we are still playing the same notes – that is G, Bb, and D – just in different orders on the strings.
We’ll show you a few different variations for playing G minor, but this list is not at all exhaustive. Once you know your way around the fretboard, it’s possible to come up with your own shapes and fingerings for any chord!
Gm Ukulele Chord Variation No.1
So, let’s have a look at the G Minor chord using alternate fingering to the position above. It’s very similar to the open position G minor chord, only we now use the 3rd finger to play a Bb on the 4th string. Our 4th finger is then used to play the G on the 2nd string as shown below.
Ukuleles are typically tuned G (4th string), C (3rd string), E (2nd string) and A (1st string) when the strings are viewed from the top of the ukulele to the bottom. This is known as re-entrant tuning. It’s important to note though that, unlike the guitar, the 4th string is not your lowest tone, that is the C or 3rd string on a ukulele.
Gm Ukulele Chord Variation No.2
Another way to play the G minor chord is from the 5th fret, using all 4 fingers. This variation may be a little easier for some players to get their fingers around but still has all that minor sadness. So, find a chord fingering that suits you and the style of music you like to play.
Gm Ukulele Chord Variation No.3
The third variation of the G Minor is the easiest to play. All of the notes of the chord can technically be played with one finger across the bottom three strings of the 10th fret. In this version, you can either mute the 4th string as shown or let the G ring out. We place our index finger across the C-E-A strings at the 10th fret, giving us the G minor triad with the G on the 1st string.
So that is the G minor in all its melancholy glory, but just to get it to really stick in your brain, go have a look at this video from Ukulele Tricks and give it a go for yourself.
How To Play the Gm Chord On a Baritone Ukulele
Don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten you. The baritone is tuned d-G-B-E. That means that in order to play the Gm ukulele chord (G–Bb–E) on a baritone you will have to move your fingers a bit.
Have a look at the diagram below to see how to play the G Minor in the open position on the baritone ukulele.
Bernadette Teaches music is a great resource for all things baritone. Check out her video “How to play Gm Chord on Baritone Uke” and you will be flying around the fretboard in no time.
How Do I Use the Gm Ukulele Chord?
Everybody wants to start jamming right away. It’s important to hear the chord played in context, around other chords, and how musicians use the chord.
So, if you want to have a really great understanding of minor chords and how they function, Uke Like The Pro’s does a really in-depth tutorial on the essential minor chords and keys for ukulele.
Conclusion
Well, if you have read this far, it is time to start making some music. Grab your ukulele and get strumming! If you love pop, jazz, classical, and even rock music, you’ll likely need to play a lot of G minor. That makes it all the more exciting to learn how to play the Gm ukulele chord and its variations as we’ve discussed above.
Jay Searle
Website Founder & WriterJay is a self-professed music nerd and ukulele lover. When not working on the website you’ll find him strumming along to his favorite tunes, spending time with his family, or learning to play the piano.
