Gm7 Chord
Gm7 combines a minor triad with F, its flat seventh. In a ii-V-I it often starts the journey rather than ending it.
- Notes: G-B flat-D-F
- Symbol: Gm7
- ii7 in F major
- Minor third and flat seventh
Gm7
How to play a Gm7 chord
Notes: G - Bb - D - FGm7
Root position
G - Bb - D - F1st inversion
Bb - D - F - G2nd inversion
D - F - G - Bb3rd inversion
F - G - Bb - D
Where does Gm7 belong?
In F major, Gm7 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.
Gm7ii7C7Fmaj7 - The relative minorvi7
Same notes as Bb major with a darker center.
Bbmaj7Gm7vi7Cm7F7 - Dorian vampi7
Two chords back and forth: the major IV gives G Dorian its brighter minor sound.
Gm7i7C7 - A soft stand-iniii7
It shares three notes with Ebmaj7, so it moves without leaving home.
Ebmaj7Gm7iii7Abmaj7
Progressions to try
- Gm7C7Fmaj7
Gm7 begins a ii-V-I in F major; listen for the move through the dominant to the maj7 arrival.
- Bbmaj7Gm7Cm7F7
Here Gm7 serves as vi7, keeping the phrase moving toward the following minor-seven chord.
- Gm7C7
The two-chord Dorian vamp gives Gm7 room to sound like a center without a final cadence.
- Ebmaj7Gm7Abmaj7
In Eb major, Gm7 acts as iii7 between the home and IVmaj7 chords.
Which shape should you use?
On guitar, start with the open 310031 grip. Let the open strings ring and keep any strings marked x silent. The 353333 shape gives you another position when the neighboring chords sit elsewhere on the neck.
On ukulele, the open shape 0211 is the easiest place to start. The 3535 grip moves the chord to another register.
On piano, play G-B flat-D-F. Move G up an octave to reach the first inversion, B flat-D-F-G; the notes remain the same while the lowest voice changes.
What are the inversions?
G is the root, B flat the minor third, D the fifth and F the flat seventh.
- Root position: G-B flat-D-F, with G lowest.
- First inversion: B flat-D-F-G, written Gm7/Bb if B flat is lowest in the whole arrangement.
- Second inversion: D-F-G-B flat, written Gm7/D if D is lowest in the whole arrangement.
- Third inversion: F-G-B flat-D, written Gm7/F if F 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 Gm7 differ from G7?
Keep G, D and F, then raise the third from B flat to B. That turns Gm7 into G7; listen to the one moving voice. Try that one-note change on piano, then use the comparer to hear it in the full chord. See G7 for the other chord's full spelling and roles.
Gm7
G - Bb - D - FG7
G - B - D - F