G Minor

Key Signature

PropertyValue
TonicG
ModeMinor
Accidentals2 flats
Key Signature Notes Bb, Eb

G minor has two flats (Bb, Eb) and a noble, somewhat melancholic quality. It appears widely in Baroque and Classical music and is common in jazz minor progressions.

Diatonic Chords

The seven diatonic chords of G Minor — each built on a scale degree using only the notes of the key signature:

DegreeRoman NumeralChord TypeChord
1 i Minor G Minor
2 ii° Diminished A Diminished
3 III Major A# Major
4 iv Minor C Minor
5 v Minor D Minor
6 VI Major D# Major
7 VII Major F Major

Related Keys

Relative Major
Bb Major — shares the same key signature.
Parallel Major
G Major — same tonic, different key signature.

See all key relationships on the Circle of Fifths.

Scales in G Minor

Common scales built from the G tonic:

Transposing Instrument Context

Bb instruments (trumpet, clarinet, tenor saxophone) read in A minor to sound G Minor. Eb instruments (alto saxophone, Eb clarinet) read in E minor to sound G Minor. Flat-key signatures are particularly comfortable for woodwind instruments designed around Bb and Eb transpositions.

Related References