G# Minor Chord
The G# minor chord uses G sharp, B and D sharp. Press those notes together and you have G#m. Keep the root and fifth, then change only the middle note to hear how a minor chord differs from a major one.
- Notes: G sharp-B-D sharp
- Symbol: G#m
- Three positions
Where are the notes?
G sharp and D sharp are black keys surrounding white B. The parallel major chord would use B sharp, played on the white C key, as its third.
G sharp is the root. B is three semitones above it, a minor third. D sharp is seven semitones above the root. If the written chord symbol has a small m, such as G#m, the third is the note you should check first. Minor Chord gives the general formula.
How do the inversions work?
- Root position: G sharp-B-D sharp, with G sharp lowest.
- First inversion: B-D sharp-G sharp, with B lowest.
- Second inversion: D sharp-G sharp-B, with D sharp lowest.
When B is the lowest note in the whole arrangement, write G#m/B. With D sharp in the bass, write G#m/D#. An inversion changes the register and bass line, while the note set stays G sharp-B-D sharp.
Where does G#m fit?
G sharp minor is the home triad in G sharp natural minor. It is also the sixth chord in B major. In that major key, the same notes have a different role because the melody and surrounding chords point elsewhere.
Try G#m-C#m-D#m-G#m. These four chords come from the G sharp natural-minor scale. The final G#m repeats the first chord, so listen for the return after the middle two. If you later replace the chord on scale degree 5 with its major form, you will introduce a raised seventh from harmonic minor.
What changes in G# major?
Raise B to B sharp; keep G sharp and D sharp. You get G sharp-B sharp-D sharp. Play both chords at the same volume, then alternate their thirds alone. The single changed key is the reliable distinction, even when tempo or instrument color changes.
A short practice loop
Play G sharp-B-D sharp together, then B-D sharp-G sharp. Name the new lowest note before pressing "Hear" again. Return to root position, change B to B sharp, and say whether the result is major or minor.